Chorioamnionitis is a bacterial infection that can affect a pregnant mother and her fetus. It can have immediate effects and lasting complications on both the mother and the child, so knowing how to diagnose chorioamnionitis is critical.
This ailment can present with a number of symptoms, but many of them can also be signs of other issues. This is why medical professionals need to monitor their patients and notice when they may be presenting multiple symptoms of chorioamnionitis.
There are a few different ways to diagnose chorioamnionitis, such as through the following:
- A physical examination that looks for discharge and other physical symptoms
- Performing blood work that checks for the presence of bacteria
- Amniocentesis, the testing of a sample of amniotic fluid
- An ultrasound to check on the fetus
Without a proper diagnosis, chorioamnionitis can continue to cause complications. If you or a loved one is pregnant, it is important to know the signs of this infection and when you should ask your doctor about chorioamnionitis.
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Signs of Chorioamnionitis
Chorioamnionitis can present with a number of symptoms in both the fetus and the pregnant woman. Possible symptoms you or a loved one may experience include:
- Excess sweating.
- High fever.
- Rapid heartbeat in the mother, the fetus, or both.
- Abdominal and pelvic pain.
- A tender uterus.
- Discharge.
Since these symptoms can also be signs of other medical issues, a proper diagnosis of chorioamnionitis from your doctor is necessary. It is not something that you can diagnose on your own.
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Risk Factors for Chorioamnionitis
A recent study from the Clinics in Perinatology showed that between 1% and 4% of pregnant women experience chorioamnionitis. Doctors should always be on the lookout for the main risk factors associated with this bacterial infection. Chorioamnionitis is more likely if:
- It is a woman’s first pregnancy.
- There is a history of drug or alcohol abuse.
- The pregnant woman is African-American.
- The woman has a sexually transmitted infection, or STI.
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Why Diagnosis Is Important
Proper diagnosis of chorioamnionitis is important because this infection can have immediate and long-term effects on you and your baby. First, we will take a closer look at some of the health issues that chorioamnionitis can cause in pregnant women. This includes:
- Preterm delivery.
- An infection that spreads to the bloodstream.
- Postpartum hemorrhage.
- Acute respiratory distress.
- Sepsis and infection.
For the fetus, adverse effects of chorioamnionitis can include:
- Reduced levels of oxygen in the blood.
- Brain damage.
- Increased chances of developing cerebral palsy.
- Infections, including sepsis.
- Increased risk of seizures.
- Death.
Since the stakes are so high and the effects of chorioamnionitis can be significant, proper diagnosis is a necessity.
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When You Could Be Entitled to Damages
If a medical professional does not diagnose chorioamnionitis and you develop complications, you may qualify for damages. Chorioamnionitis can cause an increase in medical costs for families, and if one or multiple parties is found liable you could be eligible for damages covering:
- Medical bills.
- The cost of future care.
- Lost wages due to increased recovery time.
- Pain and suffering.
Chorioamnionitis can affect your short- and long-term financial outlook, and if neglect or negligence was a factor, damages may be recoverable.
How a Birth Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you think that you are entitled to damages, you do not need to pursue a case on your own. A birth injury lawyer can help you. A lawyer can handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Quickly filing your case.
- Collecting evidence.
- Naming liable parties, including doctors and hospitals.
- Making your case, in court if need be.
- Handling all communications with involved parties.
The team at Birth Injury Lawyers Group can take care of everything while you recover and get back to living your life. If you think that you did not receive a chorioamnionitis diagnosis and this ailment had adverse effects on your life, contact us at (800) 222-9529. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group would be glad to work with you, starting with a free case review.
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