Henry D., 1

Denzel is a newborn and the first child of a young mother who recently completed high school. She lives with her mother and five siblings in two rented single rooms. Currently unemployed, she and her child rely entirely on her mother—Denzel’s grandmother—for support. The grandmother earns a living by preparing and selling bhajias by the roadside. The young mother recalls noticing early signs of pregnancy, including feeling unwell, vomiting, and excessive sleepiness. Having learned about these symptoms in school, she suspected she might be pregnant, especially after missing her periods. A hospital visit confirmed her suspicion. Though initially supported by the child's father, he abandoned her as her due date approached. She attended four antenatal care (ANC) visits during her pregnancy. One day, she began feeling unwell and sought care at a nearby health facility, where she was found to have high blood pressure. She was referred to Siaya County Referral Hospital, where she was admitted for further monitoring. During her admission, she delivered her baby through a normal vaginal delivery. After birth, the baby experienced breathing difficulties, prompting the medical team to admit him to the newborn unit (nursery) for specialized care.

When Henry was born the doctors noticed he had difficulty in breathing.. He was also diagnosed with neonatal sepsis, an infection affecting new borns. A quick lab test showed he was suffering from neonatal sepsis, he was therefore admitted in the new born unit for further management. In the NBU he was administered a number of medications to which he was tolerant and responded well. He was eventually discharged on orals and a clinic review date booked for him .

The prognosis for neonatal sepsis varies, with early treatment being a crucial factor for a positive outcome. While many infants recover completely, neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of infant death. Mortality rates are higher for early-onset sepsis (around 18%) than late-onset sepsis (up to 12%), and septic shock significantly increases the risk of death. Long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities can also occur in some survivors Patient received prompt treatment during the early onset and is expected to make a full recovery.