Chicago Neonatal Sepsis Attorney
When your baby is born, you should not have to worry about the risk of a life-threatening infection or serious medical conditions like sepsis. Yet neonatal sepsis does occur, especially in premature newborns. According to a Medscape article, “early-onset neonatal sepsis is 10 to 20 times more likely to occur in premature, very low birthweight infants.” Healthcare providers are trained to recognize risk factors for neonatal sepsis, and to be able to accurately and effectively diagnose and treat neonatal sepsis when it does occur. If a doctor fails to properly diagnose neonatal sepsis and treatment is delayed, your baby can suffer life-altering and fatal harm. If your newborn developed neonatal sepsis, it is important to seek advice from a Chicago neonatal sepsis attorney who can help you to file a claim.
What is Neonatal Sepsis in Chicago?
What is neonatal sepsis? According to MedlinePlus, “neonatal sepsis is a blood infection that occurs in an infant younger than 90 days old.” There are different stages of neonatal sepsis. With early-onset neonatal sepsis, signs and symptoms of the infection appear during the first week of the baby’s life, and most often within 24 to 48 after following the baby’s birth. Late-onset sepsis typically occurs when the baby is anywhere from 1 week old to 3 months old.
Symptoms of Neonatal Sepsis in Chicago
The Cleveland Clinic identifies some of the following common signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis:
- Poor feeding;
- Excessive sleepiness;
- Excessive irritability;
- Apnea;
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Fever;
- Difficulty staying warm; and
- Paleness.
Causes of Chicago Neonatal Sepsis
There are many different types of bacteria that can cause neonatal sepsis, including but not limited to the following:
- Streptococcus bacteria, especially Group B streptococcus (GBS);
- Escherichia coli (or E coli);
- Listeria;
- Staphylococcus aureus;
- Klebsiella;
- Pseudomonas;
- Entereobacter;
- Candida;
- Serratia;
- Acinetobacter;
- Anaerobes; and
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Any of the following circumstances cited by MedlinePlus can put a newborn at an increased risk of neonatal sepsis:
- Group B streptococcus infection in the mother during pregnancy;
- Preterm delivery;
- Mother’s water breaking more than 18 hours prior to giving birth;
- Placenta infection;
- Baby having a catheter in for too long; and/or
- Baby requiring treatment in the hospital for another condition for a period of time after birth.
Contact a Neonatal Sepsis Attorney in Chicago
If your infant developed neonatal sepsis as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligence, or if your baby’s doctor failed to recognize and treat neonatal sepsis, you may be able to file a birth injury claim. Neonatal sepsis can be life-threatening if it is not properly treated, and the healthcare provider could be at fault. While it can be difficult to think about the possibility of filing a lawsuit when you are dealing with a severe infection or the death of your newborn, it is critical to hold your healthcare provider accountable for the harm they have caused. One of our experienced Chicago neonatal sepsis attorneys can speak with you today about your case. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC for more information.
