Infant sepsis or blood infection in infants is one of the common causes of death among infants and children worldwide each year.
This is a condition where the immune system overreacts in such a way that it affects organs and causes death.
Bacterial infections are the most common cause of sepsis. However, sepsis can also be caused by fungi, parasites or viruses .
The infection can be found in any of a number of places throughout the body.
To find out more about sepsis in babies, here is a complete explanation.
What is Sepsis in Babies?
Neonatal sepsis is a blood infection that often occurs in newborns.
This infection is prone to attack newborns aged 2 months to 3 years because their immune system is not yet fully developed.
There are various causes of neonatal sepsis, including several types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
As reported on the Cleveland Clinic page , sepsis in babies can appear in several different ways when a baby is born:
- If the mother experiences an infection of the amniotic fluid (a condition known as chorioamnionitis )
- Premature birth (premature babies have a higher risk for sepsis)
- Low birth weight (included in the risk factors for sepsis)
- If the mother’s water breaks early (more than 18 hours before the baby is born)
- If the baby is being treated for another condition while still in the hospital
- If the mother’s birth canal is filled with bacteria
In addition, there are also several other causes of neonatal sepsis, such as:
a. Infection during Childbirth (Early Onset)
This infection case occurs within 24 to 72 hours after delivery .
This infection can be caused by bacterial infections originating from the mother, such as Group B Streptococcus (GBS), Staphylococcus , E.coli, H. influenza , and L. monocytogenes .
In addition, the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) can also cause blood infections in newborns.
It should be noted that the risk of infection is greater if the baby is premature, the pregnant mother can experience high fever and premature rupture of membranes more than 18 hours before delivery, the placenta or amniotic fluid is infected, and the presence of GBS bacteria in the fetus in the womb.
b. Infection Occurs after Childbirth (Late Onset)
This infection occurs within 4 to 90 days after the baby is born .
The cause of this infection often comes from the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Serratia , anaerobic bacteria, and Candida fungi.
Long hospital stays, premature babies, and low birth weight can increase the risk of developing this infection.
Symptoms of Sepsis in Babies
Often children or babies do not show symptoms when they have a blood infection.
However, it is important to note if they consistently experience fever that fluctuates from 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius.
In addition, pay attention to other symptoms, such as:
- Often feel tired
- Fussy
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty breathing (sometimes even stopping breathing for 10 seconds)
- Less urination
- Pale
- Rash on the skin
- Soft spots (fontanelles) on the forehead
- Seizures in newborns
- Easily offended
- Heart rate changes
- Confusion
The symptoms of blood infection in babies are often unclear and uncertain.
Therefore, it is best to immediately have a check-up with a doctor if they experience some of the symptoms mentioned above.
As reported on the Cleveland Clinic website , symptoms of infection in newborns include:
- Baby’s appetite is poor
- Very sleepy
- Babies are very irritable
- Rapid baby breathing or pauses in breathing ( apnea )
- Sometimes babies vomit or have diarrhea
- Fever (temperature above 38.1 degrees C)
- The baby’s inability to stay warm, having a low body temperature even though he is dressed and wrapped in a blanket
- The baby looks pale
The doctor will usually perform a series of laboratory tests to confirm or treat the infection.
First of all, usually the doctor will first look for infections in the ear, throat, or lungs when the baby has a fever.
If there are no other symptoms of infection, the doctor will ask for certain tests to be performed.
Risks and Complications of Blood Infections
Blood infections in infants can be fatal if not diagnosed early.
In fact, experts say that this infection has a more fatal risk than a heart attack or stroke.
In the worst cases, this infection can cause low blood pressure, a weakened heart, or some organs in the body to stop working suddenly.
The baby may experience septic shock which in turn can lead to multi-organ failure.
In fact, sepsis is one of the major challenges in intensive care units in hospitals, where it is a leading cause of death.
Diagnosis of Sepsis in Infants
Sepsis can affect anyone at any time, but it tends to affect the very old and the very young.
Children, especially newborns and young infants, may be more susceptible to sepsis.
Those with underlying health problems are also at higher risk.
As reported on the Cleveland Clinic page , tests for sepsis in newborns can include:
-
- Blood test
- Urine test
- Skin swabs, also called a skin swab. A skin swab is often recommended for suspected superficial wound infection, but can also be used for abscesses or throat and ear infections.
- Spinal tapor spinal tap is a procedure in which a very small needle is inserted into the space around your child’s spine to withdraw spinal fluid to test for infection. Spinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and brain.
Spinal fluid testing is important to determine if a baby or child has meningitis .
Sometimes, surgery may be necessary for those who have a surgical infection that leads to sepsis, such as a severe skin or bone infection or appendicitis, according to Healthy Children’s .
How to Treat Sepsis in Babies
Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can cause sepsis as the body’s extreme response to the infection.
If treatment is not given in a timely manner, sepsis (sometimes called septicemia or septicemia ) can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
As reported on the Cleveland Clinic page , sepsis in infants will be treated in the intensive care unit.
Treatment may include the following:
- Intravenous fluids (IV, directly into a vein)
- IV antibiotics
- Fever medication (rarely used in newborns)
- Extra oxygen and other forms of respiratory assistance, if needed
- Sometimes, a baby may need a blood transfusion.
Most patients with sepsis are treated in the hospital. Infants and children who are seriously ill may be treated in a hospital’s ICU.
How to Prevent Blood Infections in Children
In general, blood infections cannot be prevented because they originate from within the body itself. However, there is no harm in trying to prevent this infection in several ways, such as:
- Get immunization or vaccinations according to schedule. Blood infections in babies can most likely be prevented as long as parents routinely take them for immunization or vaccinations thoroughly and on time.
- Be sure to clean any wounds, and abrasions with antiseptic.
- Never underestimate fever and rashes that occur on the baby’s skin. When seeing these symptoms of sepsis we must immediately take the baby to the doctor. Because blood infections that are detected early are likely to be cured.
- Keep your baby away from people who have any infections, such as lung infections or skin infections, as much as possible. This will help prevent your baby from getting an infection from someone who is already infected.
- Give your baby exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. After that, continue by giving him a balanced nutritional menu to boost his immune system.
- Always maintain cleanliness by washing your hands regularly before or after doing an activity.
To prevent sepsis in the baby, the pregnant mother may be treated with IV antibiotics for several hours before delivery, if indicated by prenatal examination or clinical signs such as maternal fever or uterine tenderness.
Your obstetrician will decide whether you should be given antibiotics before delivery, as reported by the Cleveland Clinic website .
Most importantly, we must always pay attention to changes experienced by our little one, especially suspicious symptoms.
Hopefully the information about sepsis in babies above is useful for you, Mom.
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