What is the Difference Between Puerperal Pyrexia and Puerperal Sepsis?

The main difference between puerperal pyrexia and puerperal sepsis lies in their definitions and causes.

Puerperal Pyrexia is defined as a fever greater than or equal to 38°C in a woman within six weeks of giving birth. It can be caused by various factors, including:

• Urinary tract infections: Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., and Klebsiella spp. are the main causative agents.
• Genital tract infections: E. coli, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Clostridium welchii are common pathogens.
• Mastitis: Staphylococcus spp. is the primary cause.
• Postoperative infection following cesarean section.

Puerperal Sepsis is a bacterial infection of the genital tract occurring after the birth of a baby. It can be caused by the same organisms responsible for puerperal pyrexia, as well as other bacteria. Predisposing factors for puerperal sepsis include home birth in unhygienic conditions, low socioeconomic status, poor nutrition, primiparity, anemia, prolonged rupture of membranes, prolonged labor, multiple vaginal examinations in labor, cesarean section, obstetrical maneuvers, and retained secundines within the uterus.

Both puerperal pyrexia and puerperal sepsis are postpartum complications that can be diagnosed through physical examination and treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. They share similarities in causes and can also coexist in certain cases.

Comparative Table: Puerperal Pyrexia vs Puerperal Sepsis

Puerperal pyrexia and puerperal sepsis are two types of postpartum complications that occur in women after childbirth. Here is a table comparing the differences between the two:

Both conditions share similarities, such as occurring in women who give birth, happening during or after about six weeks after childbirth, being caused by bacterial infections, and being diagnosable through physical examination and blood tests.