Darrick Robles Sepsis, or blood poisoning, is a potentially life-threatening immune response of the body to infection. If bacteria or other pathogens get into the blood, blood poisoning can occur under certain circumstances and the function of the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys can be disturbed. Many sufferers are also confused and sometimes unresponsive. Prompt treatment is crucial – often in the intensive care unit.
If you or someone around you shows symptoms of sepsis, you need to call an ambulance. Call 112 and wait for the ambulance.
Sepsis: who is affected?
Most people get infections in their bodies from time to time. These are usually limited to a specific area and can almost always be treated if they don’t go away on their own. In exceptional cases, a bacterial infection can develop into sepsis. Older people and people with serious illnesses or a weakened immune system are affected more often than other people.
Mortality from sepsis is relatively high – at least 1 in 10 sufferers die, often due to organ failure that cannot be treated in time. On the other hand, it rarely happens that children and healthy people under the age of 50 become seriously ill.
Symptoms of sepsis
Sepsis affects the general condition of the entire body. If there are signs of blood poisoning, you will quickly feel very ill. The heart beats faster, you get fever, chills and shortness of breath. Some people who develop sepsis have a normal or abnormally low body temperature.
Many also experience severe pain in the abdomen and other parts of the body. It can be difficult to address the person concerned. Consciousness may be impaired or loss of consciousness may occur.
Common symptoms of blood poisoning:
- tachycardia and high pulse
- falling blood pressure
- rapid breathing, shortness of breath
- chills and fever
- Confusion and restlessness (common in older sufferers)
- severe abdominal pain , diarrhea and vomiting
- low urine production
The more symptoms that apply, the greater the likelihood that it is sepsis. In septic shock, the condition has worsened and the circulatory problems then show up as pale, sweaty skin with cold hands and feet (low oxygen saturation in the blood).
Sepsis and septic shock are life-threatening conditions that require emergency medical treatment.
sepsis in children
Children are rarely affected by sepsis – and especially rarely if they are vaccinated according to the general vaccination program. If children still get sepsis, they are often newborns or premature babies. The symptoms are the same as in adults, but you should also pay special attention to small skin bleeds (purple-red patches on the skin that don’t fade when you press them). Sometimes sepsis occurs in connection with meningitis – then headaches and a stiff neck are also serious symptoms.
Causes of sepsis
Sepsis occurs when there is an infection somewhere in the body. The bacteria then spread further into the blood. This creates a reaction that causes fluid to leak from the blood vessels, blood pressure drops, and the body’s organs are starved of oxygen, leading to organ failure.
Pneumonia is the most common cause of sepsis. Normal urinary tract infections that are not treated in a timely manner or in the right way, known as urosepsis, can also lead to sepsis. Sometimes abdominal infections and wound infections can be behind blood poisoning.
It can also be bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics or multi-resistant germs that occur, for example, in connection with a stay in hospital. Blood poisoning can also be caused by bacteria that enter the body through wounds, catheters or prostheses, for example.
The risk of developing sepsis is greater for older people and people with chronic diseases or a reduced immune system. Long-term cortisone treatment and immune-suppressing drugs are other risk factors because they also weaken the immune system.
treatment of sepsis
If sepsis is suspected, an emergency medical examination is carried out, in which samples are taken from blood, among other things. Sometimes an X-ray is also done. Treatment is initiated very quickly. Fluid and antibiotics, among other things, are given directly into a vein (intravenously). Many patients also need support with breathing, blood pressure, blood circulation and kidney function. In most cases, a stay in the intensive care unit is necessary for the first few days.
When to seek medical help
Always call 911 if you or anyone around you is showing symptoms of sepsis – dial 112 and wait for the ambulance.
Here’s how Med-Healths can help you
If you suspect sepsis, always go to the emergency room first.
