A person’s immune system attacks foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, to fight off infection. In some cases, the immune system can launch an aggressive response that damages the body, which is known as sepsis.
Sepsis can sometimes occur in newborns, often because of a bacterial infection. In this case, urgent treatment is crucial to avoiding more serious, sometimes life-threatening, effects.
Neonatal sepsis affects infants who are younger than 28 days old. There are two categories of neonatal sepsis:
The inflammation and blood clotting issues that accompany sepsis can reduce blood flow throughout the body and lead to serious complications in newborns. This includes cognitive delays, as well as a risk of developing meningitis, which is an infection of membranes around the brain.
Sepsis results from an existing infection, with bacterial infections being the most common cause. Symptoms include:
Parents are urged to seek immediate medical care if one or more of these symptoms are present. While many of these symptoms can also accompany less serious medical issues, every second counts when it comes to treatment for sepsis.
Any infant can experience sepsis. However, certain risk factors increase the chance of illness. These include:
Early onset sepsis typically occurs when the mother has an infection while pregnant. With late onset sepsis, medical issues result from bacteria present in the environment, which the infant can acquire.
The good news is that neonatal sepsis is curable. However, timely medical treatment is required to prevent worsening health effects. Treatments typically involve one or more of the following:
Remember that fast treatment is key to experiencing a good outcome.
It’s not always possible to prevent neonatal sepsis, but pregnant women are urged to inform their doctors if they have a current infection. Additionally, hand washing and other hygienic practices at home can safeguard infants from developing late onset sepsis by reducing the risk of infection.