Neonatal Sepsis

Why in News?

The Lancet Global Health journal recently published in a study that More than a third of newborns diagnosed with sepsis could die.

• It is a blood infection that occurs in an infant younger than 90 days old.
• Symptoms - Fever, Respiratory distress, Jaundice, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal distention, Seizures, Jitteriness, Reduced sucking, and Lethargy.
• Causes - Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), Escherichia coli, Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Enterovirus infections, and Yeast.
• Viruses, fungi and parasites can also lead to the condition.
• Group B streptococcus (GBS) has been a major cause of neonatal sepsis.
• Categories
  • Early-onset neonatal sepsis - Develops within the first 72 hours of life.
  • Late-onset neonatal sepsis – It develops after 3 days of life.
• High –risk group
  • Have a low birth weight.
  • Have a low Apgar score (Standard method to determine if baby needs immediate medical care).
  • Are male.
  • Have a mother with an infection during pregnancy.
• Treatment - Sepsis in newborns is curable. Many newborns who develop sepsis recover completely and don’t have any other issues.
• Treatments include Intravenous (IV) fluids, IV antibiotics, Antiviral medication, Heart and/or blood pressure medications, and Extra oxygen and other forms of respiratory support.
• Prevalence - Neonatal sepsis results in more than 5,50,000 deaths globally every year.

India accounts for nearly 1/4^th of the global burden of infection-related deaths.

• Sepsis remains a major hurdle to lowering neonatal mortality rates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Antibiotic resistance was a major challenge in managing sepsis.

References

1. The Hindu | Neonatal sepsis
2. Cleveland Clinic | Sepsis in Newborns