Sepsis- Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Health Desk- In most of the cases, the cause of sepsis is bacteria. But it can also be due to Kovid-19, influenza and fungal. Sepsis can cause fever, rapid heartbeat and difficulty in breathing. If sepsis becomes more severe then it becomes septic shock.

Table of Contents

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and sometimes fatal response to infection, which can result in organ failure, tissue damage, and death. To fight infection, immune chemicals secreted into the blood cause massive inflammation, which leads to blood clots and leaky vessels. This reduces blood flow, depriving the organs of oxygen and nutrients.

In severe cases, one or more organs may fail. In the worst case, the patient’s blood pressure drops, the heart weakens and the patient goes into septic shock, in which multiple organ failure occurs quickly and is fatal to the patient.

Stages of sepsis-

Sepsis is divided into three stages:

1. Sepsis is a condition in which an infection enters the bloodstream and causes inflammation throughout the body.

2.Severe sepsis The infection and inflammation have increased to such an extent that they are interfering with organ function.

3. Septic shock Septic shock is a severe sepsis consequence that results in a significant drop in blood pressure. This can result in a variety of devastating consequences, including organ damage.

Symptoms of sepsis-

If you have any signs or symptoms of sepsis, you should seek immediate medical attention. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of recovery.

Symptoms of sepsis may include:

Shortness of breath
Discoloration of the skin, especially on the lips, fingers, and toes
Chills are caused by a decrease in body temperature
Passes urine less
Dizziness
Change in mental ability
Unconsciousness
Extreme pain (asthenia)

Causes of sepsis-

While any bacterial, viral, or fungal infection can cause sepsis, the diseases most commonly associated with sepsis include respiratory tract infections.

PneumoniaAbdominal infectionKidney infectionBlood poisoningWounds or burns

Reasons for risk-

Many factors and conditions increase the risk of sepsis, including:

Older age
Childhood
Diabetes
Weakened immune system
Chronic kidney or liver disease
Prolonged hospital stay or admission to the intensive care unit.
Long-term intravenous catheters and breathing tubes use of antibiotics or corticosteroids in the past

Redressal-

Get yourself vaccinated against flu, pneumonia and other diseases.
Practicing proper hygiene by cleaning scratches and wounds and washing hands and showering regularly can help prevent infections that can progress to sepsis.
If you have an infection and notice any of the following symptoms, seek immediate treatment to prevent sepsis.
Fever and chills, extreme thirst, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and poor urine output, all of which are signs of organ dysfunction become pus or pus

How is sepsis diagnosed?

If someone has symptoms of sepsis, the doctor will do tests to diagnose the disease and establish its severity. Blood tests are one of the first tests to be done. Blood tests check for the following conditions
Infection Clotting problems Liver or kidney abnormality Oxygen levels Electrolyte imbalance, if any Blood acidity levels To check how acidic a person’s blood is

The doctor may prescribe additional tests based on the symptoms and findings of the blood test, such as:

A urine test is necessary (to check for bacteria in the urine) A test for wound secretions (to check an open wound for infection) A test for mucus secretion (to identify the germs responsible for the infection) )
If the above tests fail to identify the source of the disease, the doctor may request an internal examination of the body using any one of the following methods:
X-ray of the chest to check the lungs CT scan is used to look for infection in the appendix, pancreas and colon Ultrasound to see if the gallbladder or ovaries are infected Soft tissue infection can be detected through MRI scan could

Sepsis treatment-

The chances of a successful recovery increase with prompt and comprehensive treatment. In the critical care unit, patients with sepsis must be closely monitored and treated. Life-saving procedures may be necessary to stabilize respiratory and cardiac function.

Medicines-

Sepsis and septic shock are treated with a variety of drugs. These include the following:

1. Antibiotics:

Antibiotic treatment should be started as soon as possible. Antibiotics with a broad spectrum of action, which are effective against a wide range of germs, are usually used initially. Following the blood test findings, your doctor may switch to an antibiotic that is specifically designed to fight the bacteria causing the infection.

2 .intravenous fluids.

3 .Vasopressors.

4 .Supportive care.

5 .Surgery.

Lifestyle changes and self-care-

Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean protein Take only over-the-counter and prescription medications as directed by the doctor If the doctor has recommended an antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal medication, follow the directions carefully Follow Do not stop taking the medicine even if you start feeling better, take rest for some time and then slowly resume normal routine. Talk to a doctor about what activities are appropriate for you Sitting for long periods of time is not recommended Make sure you are up to date on your vaccines. Get the flu vaccine every year. Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer Maintain a healthy level of hygiene. keep the cut clean and covered until it heals completely

What to do-

Sepsis can be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infection. Prevention of sepsis is possible by preventing infection with good and frequent hygiene and by avoiding people with infection. Other infections can be prevented through vaccination.

How to detect sepsis?

This information can be obtained in the following way. As-

Testing by a doctor is necessary to determine whether you have sepsis and to identify its severity.
First you will have a blood test which shows infection, clotting and liver kidney function. Along with this, there is also a decrease in the amount of oxygen, electrolyte imbalance, which affects the lack of water in the body and the acid in the blood.
You have to get some other tests done along with blood test like urine test which shows whether there is bacteria in urine or not. Examining wound secretions and examining mucus can tell what type of bacterial infection you have.
If the infection is not detected by the tests mentioned above, X-ray for lung infection, CT scan for stomach, intestine, pancreas infection and MRI for tissue infection are detected.

When to see a doctor?

Sepsis is commonly found in hospitalized patients. People living in the intensive care unit are more likely to develop an infection that can lead to sepsis. On the other hand, any infection can lead to sepsis. Consult your doctor if you have an infection or if the wound is not healing.

Disclaimer- After reading this article, you must have got information about the causes, symptoms and treatment of sepsis, but for more information, consult a qualified doctor. Be alert, be healthy.

Sepsis- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment