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What is Sepsis? |
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Symptoms
Sepsis is the body’s natural reaction to infection, and is commonly not fatal; but it can cause complications which result in serious illnesses and even death. The usual infection sites which the condition responds to may involve the lungs (during pneumonia), skin, stomach, intestines, kidneys, and the pelvis. People who have undergone surgery or are hospitalized may incur an infection from the assistive tubes which are inserted during confinement, from surgery wounds, or from bedsores. The initial symptoms may include fever or hypothermia, a rapid heartbeat, and hyperventilation. If the condition has worsened or if the patient has moved on to septic shock, he may experience mental inconsistencies such as vexation and a reduced alertness; diarrhea, and reduced urine output; lowered blood pressure, as indicated by dizziness when he attempts to stand up; and skin flushing, rashes, or bleeding.
Causes
When infectious agents enter the body, the immune system naturally resists the invasion in an effort to prevent an infection from spreading throughout the body; inflammation is a usual result of this effort, as it assists the body in repairing damaged tissues. This process is normally regulated by a complex balance of chemical impulses, so the immune system knows when to initiate and cease the inflammation. When sepsis occurs, the reaction is exaggerated, causing the inflammation to spread out to the uninfected parts of the body. Severe cases of the condition involves an intricate series of causes: the infective catalyst provokes the immune system to dispatch too many regulators, causing massive inflammation, and prompting the formation of minute blood clots throughout the body; simultaneously, the overactive immune system hampers the body’s natural tendency to dissolve blood clots, resulting in increased heart rates and damaged tissues.
Diagnosis
A sepsis diagnosis is difficult to isolate from various other disorders which share its symptoms (fevers, rapid heartbeats and breathing). A physical examination may be conducted in accordance with an inquiry of the symptoms, and blood tests may be done to determine a complete blood count, as well as checking for bacteria and other infections. The doctor may also take samples of bodily secretions, such as urine, saliva, and excrement. Patients who test positive for sepsis may have abnormal white blood cell amounts, a low platelet count, high blood acidity, and abnormal renal or liver functioning. If infection isn’t apparent, imaging techniques may be employed in order to determine the location of the infection.
Treatment Info
Surgery is a possibility, especially if the aim is to remove the cause of the infection (such as intravenous tubes and medical devices like pacemakers). The doctor may also drain pus buildup on the infection site. Prescription medications are also an essential component of treatment, especially antibiotics. These are usually taken even before the infectious catalyst is determined; broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics are administered, and blood tests can determine if they are potent enough to eradicate the infection. Vasopressors (blood constrictors), activated protein C (for mitigating the overactive immune response) and other medications like corticosteroids, insulin, painkillers, and sedatives may also be prescribed.
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