[Fever during labor].

The authors have studied the progress of labour and the neonatal consequences for 100 patients who started labour with a high temperature. A control group consisted of 100 patients with normal temperature and the comparison showed that there was a raised risk of dystocia and of fetal distress during labour. The maternal and neonatal complications were studied in relationship to the aetiology, which was most frequently premature rupture of the membranes. The authors suggest the way these cases should be managed to lessen the maternal and neonatal risk which is associated with pyrexia in labour. These are: culturing blood, urine and a vaginal or, better still, endocervical swab; giving penicillin with gentamycin and metronidazole throughout the labour and in the first few days after delivery. Very careful monitoring should also be carried out.