Maternal Fever, Epidural Analgesia, and Genetics: Implications for the Neonate

( Br J Anaesth . 2025;135:9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025.04.018.) The editorial discusses the ongoing uncertainty surrounding epidural-related maternal fever (ERMF), a condition affecting 15% to 25% of laboring women who receive epidural analgesia. Although epidurals improve maternal comfort and outcomes, clinicians face difficulty distinguishing ERMF, which may be noninfectious, from fevers caused by infections. This diagnostic ambiguity often results in unnecessary antibiotic use, increased healthcare costs, neonatal interventions, and parental anxiety. Despite its frequency, current evidence does not strongly link ERMF to neonatal harm.