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: Recall the definition of puerperal fever.
Puerperal fever, also called puerperal pyrexia, is a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or more on any two of the first ten days after delivery, not counting the first 24 hours.

Step 2: List the common causes.
The most common source is infection of the genital tract, seen as endometritis, an infection of the uterine lining after delivery. Infection of the breast, mastitis, is another frequent cause, especially in the second and third week postpartum. Urinary tract infection is also common because catheterization and birth trauma make the postpartum bladder more prone to infection.

Step 3: Check deep vein thrombosis.
Deep vein thrombosis can cause a low grade fever, but it is a vascular complication of the puerperium rather than one of the classic infective causes grouped under puerperal fever, so it is not counted among the common causes here.

Step 4: Combine the findings.
Endometritis, mastitis, and urinary tract infection together make up the standard list of common causes of puerperal fever, while deep vein thrombosis sits outside that list.

Final Answer:
The common causes of puerperal fever are endometritis, mastitis, and urinary tract infection, that is, 1, 2 and 3.