Question

Consider the following:
1. Endometritis
2. Mastitis
3. Urinary tract infection
4. Deep vein thrombosis

Which of these are common causes of Puerperal Fever?

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1 and 2
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 1 and 4

Hint:

Puerperal fever is most often traced to infection of the genital tract, breast, or urinary tract.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Puerperal fever is simply a fever occurring in the days after childbirth, and it usually comes from an infection somewhere in the body rather than from a random unrelated illness.

Step 2: Key Approach:
Think about which parts of the body are most exposed to infection right after delivery and childbirth related procedures, then check each listed condition against that list.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The uterine lining is raw after the placenta separates, which makes endometritis a leading cause of postpartum fever.
Breastfeeding can lead to cracked nipples and blocked ducts, opening the door to mastitis, another frequent postpartum infection.
Catheter use during labor and trauma to the urinary tract during delivery raise the risk of a urinary tract infection as well.
Deep vein thrombosis is a real risk after delivery too, and it can raise the temperature slightly, but it is a clotting problem, not an infection, so it is kept separate from the standard list of infective causes of puerperal fever.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Endometritis, mastitis, and urinary tract infection, options 1, 2 and 3, are the common causes of puerperal fever.