Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Infectious Diseases
Number of Conditions: 3
Neonatal sepsis
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Infectious Diseases
Symptoms:
fever or hypothermia; poor feeding; lethargy; irritability; breathing difficulties; low blood pressure; jaundice; seizures
Root Cause:
A systemic infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi in newborns, often due to immature immune systems and exposure during or after birth.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood cultures, lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, urine culture, complete blood count (CBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and imaging if localized infection is suspected.
Treatment:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics initially, tailored based on culture results; supportive care including fluids, oxygen therapy, and management of complications such as shock or organ failure.
Medications:
Empiric treatment often includes a combination of ampicillin (a penicillin antibiotic) and gentamicin (an aminoglycoside antibiotic); vancomycin (a glycopeptide antibiotic) is added if MRSA is suspected. Antifungal medications like fluconazole may be used if fungal sepsis is identified.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1 to 5 per 1,000 live births globally; higher prevalence in low-resource settings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Premature birth, prolonged rupture of membranes, maternal infections, low birth weight, invasive procedures, and lack of prenatal care.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt treatment, many neonates recover fully; however, mortality rates can range from 5% to 50% depending on the severity and resource availability.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Septic shock, organ failure, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and death in severe cases.
Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Infectious Diseases
Symptoms:
skin vesicles; eye involvement (keratoconjunctivitis); seizures; lethargy; poor feeding; respiratory distress; liver dysfunction; shock
Root Cause:
Perinatal transmission of herpes simplex virus (HSV) from the mother, either during vaginal delivery or via ascending infection in utero.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Viral culture or PCR testing of skin lesions, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or other body fluids; imaging (MRI) for neurological involvement; ophthalmological exam for eye involvement.
Treatment:
Intravenous (IV) antiviral therapy with acyclovir for 14–21 days; supportive care for organ dysfunction.
Medications:
Acyclovir (an antiviral medication) is the primary treatment; it inhibits viral DNA synthesis to prevent replication.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 1 in 3,200 to 1 in 20,000 live births in high-resource settings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Primary maternal HSV infection during pregnancy, vaginal delivery with active lesions, prolonged rupture of membranes, and preterm birth.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on the type of infection (localized vs. disseminated vs. CNS); localized infections have a better prognosis, while disseminated or CNS involvement has higher morbidity and mortality.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Neurological impairment, developmental delays, recurrent HSV outbreaks, blindness (ocular involvement), and death in severe cases.
Congenital infections (e.g., toxoplasmosis, rubella, CMV, syphilis, Zika)
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Infectious Diseases
Symptoms:
growth restriction; microcephaly; jaundice; hepatosplenomegaly; rash; eye abnormalities; hearing loss; neurological deficits
Root Cause:
Transplacental transmission of pathogens during pregnancy, causing fetal infection and subsequent organ damage.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Maternal history and prenatal testing, PCR or serologic testing of infant blood, imaging (ultrasound or MRI), and evaluation of symptoms at birth.
Treatment:
Treatment varies by pathogen - Toxoplasmosis (Pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and leucovorin). Rubella (Supportive care; no specific antiviral treatment). CMV (Antiviral therapy with ganciclovir or valganciclovir for severe cases). Syphilis (Penicillin G (antibiotic)). Zika (Supportive care; no specific antiviral treatment).
Medications:
Treatments include antibiotics (penicillin for syphilis), antivirals (ganciclovir for CMV), and antiparasitic drugs (pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine for toxoplasmosis).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Varies by infection; for example, congenital CMV affects approximately 0.5% to 1% of live births globally.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Maternal infection during pregnancy, lack of prenatal care, low socioeconomic status, and living in endemic areas for specific pathogens.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on the pathogen and severity; some infections (e.g., rubella and Zika) may result in significant long-term disabilities, while others may be treatable with minimal residual effects.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Neurological deficits, hearing loss, vision impairment, developmental delays, stillbirth, and miscarriage.