How to Diagnose Chorioamnionitis

Chorioamnionitis is a medical condition that affects pregnant women before or during labor. It is an infection of the outer membrane of the fluid filled sac that contains the fetus and the fluid in which the fetus grows. It happens when good bacteria found naturally in the vagina penetrates into the uterus causing an infection. Read on to learn how to diagnose chorioamnionitis.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Watch for fever during or just before delivery. Body temperature more than 100.4 degrees F and mild or severe uterine tenderness are common signs.
2. Notice if urine has a stale odor or smells like ammonia. Also look for leaking of amniotic fluid or foul smelling vaginal discharge.
3. Contact a medical practitioner to check the heart rate of both mother and baby. Maternal heart rate greater than 120 beats per minute and fetal heart rate more than 160 beats per minute is the first diagnosis of chorioamnionitis.
4. Test the amniotic fluid for infection if the patient is in pre-term labor by performing an amniocentesis. A small amount of amniotic fluid is extracted using a needle and syringe to check for low glucose and a high bacteria content.
5. Schedule a blood test to assess the presence of elevated bacteria and leukocyte count to determine an infection. An ultrasound should be done to check the biophysical profile of the baby.

Tips & Warnings

• Chorioamnionitis is treated with antibiotics but if the infection is serious, putting the baby's health at risk, delivery is the best option available.