Puerperal pyrexia may be defined as a temperature of > 38ºC in the first 14 days following delivery.

Causes:

• endometritis: most common cause
• urinary tract infection
• wound infections (perineal tears + caesarean section)
• mastitis
• venous thromboembolism

Management

• if endometritis is suspected the patient should be referred to hospital for intravenous antibiotics (clindamycin and gentamicin until afebrile for greater than 24 hours)