B hemolytic streptococcus is a bacterium found in the vagina in about 25% of women. Its presence in pregnancy does not harm the mother but it can be extremely dangerous for the newborn. When there is a positive result for the presence of Streptococcus-B in pregnancy, there is a strong chance that the mother may transmit the bacterium to the newborn. This is done during normal labor when the fetus, with its cathode in the genital tube, can be infected with Streptococcus-B. For this reason, it is very important for the prengant woman to be examined from the 35th week to the 37th week.

 

If the baby is infected, the symptoms occur within 12 hours of birth time and are as follows:

- Does not react to stimuli

- Does not get adequate nutrition

- Has changes in temperature

- Loud breathing

- The heartbeat is irregular as well as the breathing rate

 

The most serious consequences may be:

- Sepsis

- Pneumonia

- Gastrointestinal problems

- Meningitis

 

Early diagnosis is crucial and can save valuable time. Treatment is easy: Take antibiotics (penicillin or ampicillin, preferably at least 4 hours before giving birth and if you are allergic to penicillin, then cefazolin, clindamycin, erythromycin, vancomycin).

 

Symptoms in pregnant women are as follows:

- Asymptomatic bacteriuria

- Urinary tract infection

- Chronic amnionitis (fever, uterine susceptibility, tachycardia and mother and fetus, purulent amniotic fluid and leucocytosis) of the mother

 

During post-natal period it can cause:

- Endometritis the first 48 hours postpartum

- Pneumonia

- Postpartum sepsis

- bacteraemia

- In rare cases, meningitis or endocarditis.

 

The baby does NOT need to be born with a caesarean section. The administration of antibiotics during labor is sufficient to effectively protect the baby.

 

Also, the mother who detected the microbe in the Streptococcus-B test can normally breastfeed. It has not been proven that the baby is at risk of breastfeeding and breastfeeding also protects the baby from other infections.

 

In conclusion, it is NECESSARY to check the pregnant woman who is going to give birth naturally. The treatment is simple, and the consequences for the baby - if not found in time - can be very serious.

 

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