Things to know about post-caesarean infection (part 1)

Post-cesarean wound infection is an infection that occurs after a cesarean section. Signs of infection include fever above 38 ° C, tender pain, and pain in the lower abdomen. You need immediate treatment to avoid complications from wound infection. However, how do you know exactly if you have a postpartum infection and how to treat it? aFamilyToday Health will help you answer your questions with the article below.

What causes infection after cesarean section?

Obese women   are also at a higher risk of developing postpartum infections than other women. If you have diseases such as diabetes , HIV immunosuppressive disorder, and amniocentesis because you have taken steroids for a long time during delivery, you are more susceptible to infection.

Women need adequate care before and after giving birth. Especially in cases where you have too much blood loss during delivery or prolonged surgery, lack of antibiotics or not sterile before delivery.

Signs and symptoms of infection after cesarean section

A caesarean section can increase your risk of infection and other problems, such as blood clots.

You should go to the nearest hospital or clinic if you have signs such as fever above 38 ° C, severe abdominal pain, redness in the wound, and discharge of pus that is getting worse and worse.

When you have a bad vaginal odor, heavy bleeding (wet all the tampons in 1 hour) or bleeding with a large blood clot and that urinary pain is also a sign of a postpartum infection.

Leg or leg pain shows signs of swelling, signs of infection after giving birth. You need to see a doctor for immediate treatment!

Diagnosis of infection after cesarean section

Post-cesarean wound infection usually occurs a few weeks after giving birth with the following signs such as swelling, redness, heat, ... Your doctor will examine your wound and diagnose an infection and drainage. pus from the incision and send the sample to a laboratory for definitive diagnosis of bacteria present in the wound.

Classification of infection after cesarean section

Infections after cesarean section are divided into different categories depending on the level of infection of the wound. These include the following types of infections:

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a typical wound type usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus or Streptococcus . These are bacteria strains that reside on the skin, but under the right conditions cause inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue. Symptoms of infection are swelling, heat, and redness that gradually spread from the wound to the surrounding, but cellulitis rarely causes a discharge of pus.

Abscess wound

The wound abscess is caused by bacteria that reside on the skin, causing swelling and redness at the wound's mouth. Pus often builds up in the tissue forming the cavity caused by inflammatory bacteria. Most abscesses have pus discharge from the surgical tract. Certain types of bacteria that cause abscesses can also cause endometritis, worsening symptoms such as pain, unusual bleeding, discharge, swelling and fever all over the body, making the person uncomfortable. .

Infections do not always appear at the site of the incision but can include complications in other organs such as fungal infection, urinary tract infection, and bladder infection.

Fungal infections

This symptom is usually caused by Candida, a fungus that is resident on the human body. Candida infects people with weak immune systems or those after prolonged use of steroids or antibiotics. Candida causes vaginal yeast or red, white, and fragile bumps inside the mouth. Medication is not always necessary after a Candida infection, but antifungal medications or mouthwash can help you fight the infection better.

Bladder and urinary tract infections

Urethral catheterization can make you more susceptible to bladder and urinary tract infections. This infection is often caused by E.Coli bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics. E.Coli infection causes a burning sensation when urinating, burning urine and fever.

Necrotizing fasciitis

In some cases, wound infection can cause other serious complications such as necrotizing fasciitis. Bacteria will destroy normal tissue, causing cracks of the weight layer (sub-serosa) at the suture position after the cesarean section, creating an opening for bacteria to penetrate deep in the abdomen.

Readers can continue to learn about how to prevent and treat infections after a caesarean section here !