Infection is one of the leading causes of death and complications in newborns. In Ghana, the top three causes of death in newborns are birth asphyxia, prematurity and infections.
Most of these infections in newborns are acquired from the mother during pregnancy, childbirth or after birth.
One can be said to have an infection when there is an invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body.
Infections that affect pregnancy and childbirth include: Sexually transmitted infections( HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, etc) Urinary tract infections, Bacterial vaginosis, Chicken pox, Rubella (German measles), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Group B Strep, Zika, Salmonella, Chlamydia, Dengue fever, Fifth disease (parvovirus), Flu, Herpes, Listeriosis, , etc.
Timing of infections in pregnancy may influence the severity of the effect of the maternal infection on the baby. Thus infection during the first trimester may result in different effects compared to same infection occurring in the third trimester.
Infections in pregnancy may present as a mild fever, skin rash, vaginal discharge, painful and frequent urination. Other infections may not show any symptoms in the mother but is only discovered by doing some screening test. At other times, infections in a pregnancy may be serious enough requiring admission into hospital.
Serious complications such as miscarriages, preterm labour, congenital malformations may result from infections in pregnancy. Certain infections in a pregnant mother can be transmitted to newborn which may require the baby to be admitted for days or months after birth, and sometimes babies are infected for life.
After birth, babies can also get infections from the environment and the care we give them. Some cultural practices in the care of the cord can lead to serious infections in infants.
Vaccination is an important tool in preventing some infections in children such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, tuberculosis, tetanus, whooping cough, yellow fever, and measles.
There is a lot to learn about infections in pregnancy and childbirth.
Thank you for taking time to learn more about your health.
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