Symptoms of Sepsis
Sepsis is a huge immune response to an infection that gets into the blood; it’s also known as “blood poisoning”. (3) When someone is ill, injured, or recovering from surgery the immune system goes into overdrive to fix the problem. If infected with microorganisms during this time, the immune system can become overloaded, with the infection becoming toxic and life-threatening.
Any infection, whether bacterial, viral, or fungal, can cause sepsis. However, the most common causes are the pathogens responsible for pneumonia, abdominal infection, kidney infection, and bloodstream infection (4).
The signs of first-stage sepsis are like any infection (5):
- fever, sometimes accompanied by chills – temperature above 101°F or below 96.8°F
- rapid pulse – over ninety beats per minute
- rapid and/or difficulty breathing – over twenty-two breaths per minute
- inordinate sweating
- weakness, dizziness, or feeling faint
- appetite loss
The second stage of sepsis may result in these symptoms as well:
- altered mental state
- low blood pressure
- organ malfunction
- slurred speech
- diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- cold, clammy, pale or discolored skin
- decreased urination
- loss of consciousness
- severe muscle pain and general discomfort
As Ann learned later, once a patient hits the second stage, it’s very hard if not impossible to reverse the condition. In Ann’s father’s case, by the time his confusion started, it was already too late to save him.
The third state of sepsis is also known as septic shock. When the body is overwhelmed by the infection, organs are damaged, and systemic shut-down begins.
A healthy immune system can usually handle any infection. Those at risk for sepsis are the very young, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. What’s more, patients recovering from burns as well as patients on invasive devices (intravenous, catheters, or breathing tubes) are at a higher risk.
Sepsis Treatment
The first course of action when sepsis sets in is a round of antibiotics. If caught early enough, this can be enough to get the infection under control.
Other modes of treatment employed for sepsis include:
- vasoactive medications (to increase blood pressure)
- insulin (to stabilize blood sugar)
- corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation)
- painkillers
- dialysis
- intravenous fluids
- respirator
- surgery (6)
Unfortunately, sepsis is often not caught in time; the mortality rate for sepsis and septic shock is around fifty percent. (7)