Puerperal fever, infection of some part of the female reproductive organs following childbirth or abortion. Cases of fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) and higher ...PuerperalfeverSections&MediaArticleIntroduction&QuickFactsMediaImagesAdditionalInfoMoreArticlesOnThisTopicContributorsArticleHistoryHomeHealth&MedicineConditions&DiseasesReproductive&UrinarySystemDiseasesPuerperalfeverinfectionPrintCiteverifiedCiteWhileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies.Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions.SelectCitationStyleMLAAPAChicagoManualofStyleCopyCitationShareShareSharetosocialmediaFacebookTwitterURLhttps://www.britannica.com/science/puerperal-feverMoreGiveFeedbackExternalWebsitesFeedbackCorrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin).FeedbackTypeSelectatype(Required)FactualCorrectionSpelling/GrammarCorrectionLinkCorrectionAdditionalInformationOtherYourFeedbackSubmitFeedbackThankyouforyourfeedbackOureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle.JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork!ExternalWebsitesMedicineNet.com-PuerperalFeverPatient-PuerperalPyrexiaByTheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannicaViewEditHistoryPuerperalFeverSeeallmediaKeyPeople:IgnazSemmelweisLeonardColebrookThomasWillis...(Showmore)RelatedTopics:ReproductivesystemdiseaseFever...(Showmore)FullArticlePuerperalfever,alsocalledchildbedfever,infectionofsomepartofthefemalereproductiveorgansfollowingchildbirthorabortion.Casesoffeverof100.4°F(38°C)andhigherduringthefirst10daysfollowingdeliveryormiscarriagearenotifiabletothecivilauthorityinmostdevelopedcountries,andthenotifyingphysicianclarifiesthediagnosislater,ifpossible.Puerperalinfectionismostcommonlyoftherawsurfaceoftheinterioroftheuterusafterseparationoftheplacenta(afterbirth),butpathogenicorganismsmayalsoaffectlacerationsofanypartofthegenitaltract.Bywhateverportal,theycan