Newborn Infections
Parents and teachers are very familiar with the ritual cycle of children’s illnesses. The world is full of unfriendly bacteria and viruses to which a young child’s immune system has not yet been exposed, and so illnesses that adults can often avoid may easily sicken a little boy or girl. This same logic is maximized in the delivery room, subsequent hospital stay, and early home life of a newborn.
We go to hospitals to be treated when we are sick, and there are extensive precautions undertaken to ensure that surgical spaces are sterile and that the rest of the hospital is as safe and clean as possible. But because hospitals exist almost exclusively for the purpose of hosting sick people, it is a hotbed of danger for a newborn, as they have poorly developed immune systems. Not only that, but in the birth canal or placenta itself, a baby can be exposed to harmful bacteria or viruses.
The only benefit here is that newborns have an exceptionally quick response to treatments, so if they can start receiving medicine as soon as they become sick, then they are likely to recover well and swiftly. Generally the problems are identified by blood tests, urine tests, or secretion tests. However, in severe cases a chest x-ray or spinal tap may be necessary.
Because of the heightened risk of infection, parents need to be observant about possible symptoms, including:
- Abnormal body temperature
- Accelerated respiration
- Mood and behavioral changes
- Skin discolorations
- Swelling or discharge from the eyes
Contact Us
If your child has come down with an infection that you believe was the result of a doctor or nurse’s failure to properly handle the delivery or aftercare of your newborn, contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyer of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130.