Reducing The Threat Of GBS Related Meningitis In Infants

Reducing The Threat Of GBS Related Meningitis In Infants

Group B Strep is the major common source of sepsis and meningitis (a dangerous illness of the fluid of the spinal cord and the fluid surrounding the brain) in infants. Group B Strep is a bacterial infection that may affect a baby if the mother is is colonized with the bacteria and passes it to her baby during childbirth.

The bacteria normally grows in the vagina and/or the lower intestine. It is found in about 1 out of every 4 adult women. However, it does not generally induce an active infection or result in symptoms. Transmission from pregnant woman to the infant generally happens during labor and delivery. The child may come in contact with group b strep, as an example, if the bacteria moves up from the mother's vagina into the uterus after the membranes (bag of water) rupture. The newborn could likewise come in contact with GBS when passing down through the birth canal. In this period, the newborn can swallow or breathe in the bacteria.

About seventy five percent of instances of GBS in babies occur in the seven days of life, and the majority appear within several hours following birth. This is referred to as "early onset." The others develop a GBS infection from one week to several months after birth. This is referred to as "late onset" group b strep. In general, approximately 50% of instances of late onset can be linked to the newborn's mother having had the bacteria. In the other situations of late onset, the origin of the infection is unidentified.

After the infant comes into contact with the bacteria, it may travel to the baby's bloodstream. This may result in sepsis (overwhelming infection throughout the body), pneumonia, or meningitis. These are all significant conditions that may advance quickly and leave the baby with long term disabilities or may even bring about the infant's death. Several typical possible disabilities are: brain damage, cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, and seizures.

Common symptoms of meningitis include: a high fever, lethargy, unusual irritability, trouble feeding, stiffness, vomiting, and rashes. Given that the infection can advance quickly quick treatment is critical to prevent severe harm to the baby. For bacterial based meningitis (for example gbs related meningitis), treatment calls for the immediate use of intravenous IV and antibiotics. A diagnosis of meningitis is established by removing a sample of spinal fluid through a spinal tap and culturing the bacteria for correct identification. This is important in order to determine the proper antibiotic to be used. The results of the test might take a few hours. In the time it takes for the results, the infection can result in permanent harm or kill the infant. Given the urgency required, treatment generally commences ahead of a verified diagnosis if meningitis is a possible explanation for the baby's symptoms. Penicillin is the most broadly administered treatment.

If a child died or endures from permanent disabilities that were preventable except for the failure on the part of a doctor to diagnose GBS meningitis or to give immediate treatment that doctor might be liable for malpractice. Parents of children so harmed by GBS meningitis need to contact a lawyer experienced in birth injury lawsuits right away since the law allows just a limited amount of time to pursue a birth injury claim.

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