or childbed fever
Infection of the female reproductive system after childbirth or abortion, with fever over 100 °F (38 °C) in the first 10 days.
The inner surface of the uterus is most often infected, but lacerations of any part of the genital tract can give bacteria (often Streptococcus pyogenes ) access to the bloodstream and lymphatic system to cause septicemia , cellulitis (cellular inflammation), and pelvic or generalized peritonitis . Severity varies. Puerperal fever has become very rare in developed countries but is still seen after abortions performed in unhygienic surroundings.