Video Transcript
Which of the following is not a
symptom of puerperal sepsis? (A) Abnormal or bad-smelling
discharge. (B) Pale or gray skin, pallor. (C) Coughing and sneezing. (D) Pains in the abdomen. (E) Fever.
This question is asking us about
puerperal sepsis, which is a disease that affects the female reproductive
system. Let’s first go over some of the
parts of the female reproductive system so we can answer this question
correctly.
The external part of the
reproductive system is called the genitals. In females, we call this the
vulva. The vagina is the long muscular
tube that’s involved in sexual intercourse. Past the vagina is the uterus. This is where the unborn baby
develops until birth. We can also see the Fallopian tubes
where fertilization of an egg and sperm can occur.
Puerperal sepsis is a bacterial
infection of the female reproductive system that can occur during or shortly after
childbirth. This can be caused by different
bacteria, but one of the common types is called group A streptococcus. This is the same bacteria that
causes tonsillitis, also known as strep throat. Someone who has this bacteria on
their hands or on their equipment while delivering a baby can transfer this bacteria
to the vagina. This bacteria can find its way into
the uterus and Fallopian tubes, where it can multiply and cause an infection. This can lead to puerperal sepsis,
which has different symptoms. Some of these symptoms include
fever, abnormal or bad-smelling vaginal discharge, pale skin, sometimes called
pallor, and abdominal pain.
All of these symptoms are listed as
answer choices on the left, so these are incorrect responses. Therefore, the option that is not a
symptom of puerperal sepsis is given by answer choice (C), coughing and
sneezing.
