Pulmonary complications of septicaemia in women.

Twenty-five female patients of septicaemia aged 15-50 years comprised this study. Twenty-three patients (92%) were in the reproductive age group (15-35 years). Sixteen patients (64%) had some relation to parity, suggesting an increased risk of septicaemia in women with puerperal sepsis. The commonest primary source of infection was the female genital tract (48%). Gram-negative septicaemia was the commonest. The pleuropulmonary complications observed were pneumonia (10 cases), lung abscess (7 cases), empyema (3 cases), septic pulmonary embolisation (4 cases) and adult respiratory distress syndrome (4 cases). Seven cases of the total 25 died. Adult respiratory distress syndrome with septicaemia was the commonest cause of mortality in these patients.