What does it mean when you hear someone is septic?

Dec 17, 2017 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

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By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Sepsis is a common condition that accounts for over 6 million deaths worldwide every year. Persons often talk or hear about someone being “septic”; but do you actually know what septic means?
Sepsis and septic are used interchangeably and mean the same thing. Today, I will elaborate on this deadly condition so that you can have a better understanding of it and be able to detect it earlier.
WHAT IS SEPSIS?
Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by your body’s response to an infection. Your immune system protects you from many illnesses and infections, but it’s also possible for it to go into overdrive in response to an infection.
Sepsis develops when the chemicals the immune system releases into the bloodstream to fight an infection cause irritation throughout the entire body instead. Severe cases of sepsis can lead to septic shock, which is a medical emergency. It can happen in anyone, but it is more likely to happen in people who:
– Are older or bedridden
– Are staying in the hospital or have had recent surgery
– Have thin tubes such as catheters or IVs in their body
– Have a weak infection-fighting system (for example because they are being treated for cancer)
Sepsis can come from an infection in any part of the body, but it is most often linked to infections in the:
– Lungs (called pneumonia)
– Kidneys (called urinary tract infection)
– Skin (called cellulitis)
– Bowel (called colitis) – Sepsis caused by colitis is especially likely after a course of antibiotics.
Sepsis needs to be treated quickly. If it is not treated, it can become severe. When this happens, it is called “septic shock.” Septic shock is life-threatening.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS?
Symptoms of sepsis can include:
– A fever – But some people get a low body temperature instead of a fever.
– Chills
– Breathing that is very fast
– A heartbeat that is very fast
Symptoms of severe sepsis can include:
– Acting confused or feeling light-headed
– Trouble breathing
– Cool, clammy skin or red, flushed skin
– Poor appetite
– Urinating much less than usual
– Different types of skin rashes – One type is a lacy, purple rash that is usually on the legs, but can also be on the arms. Another rash looks like red or purple spots on the skin that do not go away when touched. These spots are usually on the chest and legs, but can also be in other areas.
– Other problems with the heart, kidneys, or brain
People who have septic shock have many of the symptoms listed above, plus their blood pressure gets low and they sometimes pass out.
SHOULD I SEE
THE DOCTOR?
Yes, as soon as possible. Sepsis can develop when you are at home or in the hospital. In either case, you (or the person with you) should call the doctor if you:
– Have a fever and chills, and have any of the symptoms above or look very sick
– Have had a recent surgery or hospital stay, and now are sick or have an infection
If your doctor is unable to see you immediately, or you can’t reach him or her, you should go to the nearest hospital/clinic.
WILL I HAVE TESTS?
Your doctor will learn about your symptoms and do an exam. He or she will likely do tests to look for an infection, see if the infection has spread to your blood, and see how serious your condition is. These tests can include:
– Blood tests, including tests called “blood cultures”
– Urine tests
– Lab tests – For example, if you are coughing up mucus, your doctor can test your mucus for bacteria.
– X-rays or other imaging tests – Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of your body. These might include a test to look at your heart, called an echocardiogram (or “echo” for short).
HOW IS SEPSIS TREATED?
Sepsis and septic shock are usually treated in the hospital with:
– Antibiotics that go in your vein through a thin tube called an “IV”
– Fluids that go in your vein through an IV
– Other medicines to treat your condition – For example, if your blood pressure is too low, your doctor can give you medicine to raise it.
If an IV or catheter in your body is causing your sepsis, your doctor might take the IV or catheter out. Some people are also treated with surgery. If you have a severe infection of the skin or tissue under the skin, your doctor might do surgery to remove the infected areas. Some people with severe septic shock might need a blood transfusion. A blood transfusion is when a person gets blood that was given (donated) by another person. But this is rare.
CAN SEPSIS BE
PREVENTED?
You can help prevent sepsis by:
– Getting treated right away if you get an infection
– Avoiding infections – One way to avoid infections is to get the vaccines your doctor recommends. Vaccines can prevent serious or deadly infections.
If you have a child, make sure he or she gets the recommended vaccines, too.
If you suspect you have an infection, do not hesitate to seek treatment. Delays in treating infections lead to sepsis and possibly death if untreated.

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