Blood infection during pregnancy is a serious health condition that can threaten the lives of both the mother and the fetus. It occurs when microbes enter the bloodstream, causing a severe immune response. A number of women in Baghlan say they have faced serious challenges in accessing healthcare services.
Shakila Mohammadi, a resident of Baghlan, says, “Around the sixth month of my pregnancy, I developed a high fever and became extremely weak. After examining me, the doctor told me I had a blood infection, which was causing the fever and severe weakness.”
She says that she visited the doctor several times, but because of the lack of adequate facilities at the health center, she had to buy some of her prescribed medicines elsewhere.
“The hospital was overcrowded and had limited facilities. We had to buy some of the medicines elsewhere. Even so, the doctors did their best to care for the patients,”she adds.
Andisha, a 27-year-old woman from Pul-e-Khumri, describes the symptoms she experienced as,
“I gradually developed abdominal pain, and later I started having headaches. I went back to the doctor, who told me I was anemic and also had a blood infection that required treatment.”
Muzhgan, another 37-year-old woman who developed a blood infection during her fourth pregnancy, says,
“I didn’t have this problem during my previous pregnancies. It developed during my fourth pregnancy, and the doctor told me I had a blood infection. I am now receiving treatment, but I lost my baby.”
Meanwhile, doctors warn that early diagnosis and timely treatment play an important role in preventing serious complications. Maryam Ansari, an obstetrician-gynecologist, says,
“Blood infection during pregnancy is a serious medical condition in which microbes, viruses, or fungi spread through the bloodstream and affect the entire body. It can threaten the lives of both the mother and the fetus. During pregnancy, changes in a woman’s immune and hormonal systems reduce the body’s ability to fight infection, increasing the risk of microbial transmission. Women who have undergone cesarean delivery, had unsafe abortions, or do not receive adequate nutrition are at greater risk of developing blood infections.”
Fahima Ahmadi, a midwife in Baghlan, says that common causes of blood infection include uterine infections, urinary tract infections, infections following cesarean delivery or childbirth, retained placental tissue in the uterus, prolonged rupture of the amniotic sac, the use of unsanitary tools during childbirth, and unsafe abortions.
“A high fever, a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, extreme weakness or dizziness, low blood pressure, fatigue, and paleness can all be warning signs. Treatment includes immediate hospitalization, strong antibiotics, intravenous fluids, monitoring blood pressure and breathing, treating the source of the infection, and, in some cases, surgery or emergency delivery. Regular prenatal checkups, good hygiene, and prompt treatment of infections during pregnancy are essential,” she adds.
Pregnancy is a sensative stage in a woman’s life, and the hormonal and physiological changes that occur during this period increase the risk of certain infections. According to doctors, blood infection most commonly develops from severe urinary tract infections, uterine infections, or infections following childbirth. If it is not treated on time, it can lead to preterm birth, harm to the fetus, and even the death of the mother. For this reason, raising public awareness and encouraging women to seek immediate medical care when they experience symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, or abdominal pain is essential.
Reporter: Marina Shirzai
