Staphylococci are called a whole group of bacteria. There are many kinds of them, but it is especially dangerous for a person to have golden staphylococcus a globular gram-positive bacterium that lives on the skin and mucous membranes of a person. And with the weakening of the body's defenses, staphylococcus can cause various diseases. Especially often a harmful microorganism settles in the walls of maternity homes, and therefore the body of babies emerging to the world is immediately populated with pathogenic bacteria. Many of them die without doing harm. But weakened babies develop life-threatening illnesses. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment is a guarantee of healing. But no one is so attentive to his own baby, as mummy. Therefore, it is so important to know what staphylococcus looks like in newborns.
In general, the danger for crumbs is not the bacterium itself, but the product of its decay is enterotoxin. The disease has two stages of development - early and late, and, accordingly, the symptomatology of them differs.
How to identify staphylococcus in newborns in the early stages of the disease?
Staphylococcal infection has many manifestations, which depend on the organ where the bacterium has penetrated. "Gates" can be skin, respiratory tract, mucous membranes, ears, eyes. Getting into the body, staphylococcus begins to develop vital functions and cause purulent-inflammatory processes. The first symptoms of infection in infants appear after a few hours in a rather acute form.
So, for example, when the respiratory tract is affected by Staphylococcus aureus in newborns, the symptoms resemble the usual ARI: the temperature rises, coughing begins, and the throat turns red. The child's condition worsens, he weakens.
If the bacteria affect the skin, then the main signs of staphylococcus in newborns include the appearance of areas of redness and flaking, pitting, purulent elements, erosion. In this case, the infection is often confused with an allergic reaction. Inflammatory processes can appear subcutaneous tissue on the umbilical wound ( omphalitis in newborns ).
If a malignant microorganism enters the gastrointestinal tract, the child is poisoned with rather severe symptoms. The manifestation of staphylococcus in newborns in this case is similar to the signs of intestinal infection: the state of health worsens sharply, high fever rises, indomitable vomiting begins, liquid stool with mucus begins. At the same time the child pales and weakens, becomes sluggish and refuses to breast.
If staphylococcus affects the eyes, the child develops purulent conjunctivitis. In case of infection in the ears, purulent otitis begins.
How does staphylococcus occur in newborns in the late stage of the disease?
After 3-5 days, the disease in the baby is aggravated. Staphylococcus penetrates deeper, into the subcutaneous layers, extending to the internal organs. So, for example, if you get kidneys, your child develops pyelonephritis. When the lungs are affected by a baby, the baby begins pneumonia. If the infection gets into the brain, a fairly serious disease develops - meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges. Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) is also possible at a late stage of the disease. Complications of infection
In view of the similarity of the symptoms of staphylococcal infection with manifestations of other diseases, in the case of a malaise in a newborn should immediately consult a doctor.