Sepsis is your body’s response to an infection that is already present in your body. If your body is weakened in some way such as when you are experiencing a bout of flu an infection can develop anywhere in your body. You cannot catch sepsis from somebody else. It occurs in your own body, when an infection is already present, such as in your skin, urinary tract, or lungs triggers or spreads an immune system response that then has an effect on other organs. Fortunately the majority of infections do not lead to sepsis.
If sepsis does develop it could lead to a number of things occurring in your body like:
- damage to tissue;
- organ failure
- death
The symptoms of sepsis
There are no clear cut, one size fits all, symptoms of sepsis, but they tend to make up the following:
- shortness of breath;
- feeling extremely cold, shivering and feverish;
- acute pain is felt;
- the skin is pale or discoloured;
- state of confusion;
- feeling very sleepy.
Who is more prone to get sepsis?
Those who are most likely to get sepsis are the elderly, those who have a chronic illness such as diabetes or cancer, those with a weakened immune system and babies younger than 3 months. However, even though comparatively rare it can happen when someone is pregnant or immediately after a birth as an infection can originate from bacteria that develop in the birth canal throughout pregnancy. Also sepsis has been known to develop from an infection during a vaginal birth, a caesarean section, or an abortion.
Sepsis from a burn or wound
If you have a burn, wound or sore sepsis could occur. This is because when there is a tear in your skin bacteria can get into your body and cause an infection. Fortunately unless you have a weakened immune system your body generally repairs itself but not if sepsis has developed.
MRSA and sepsis
The staph bacterial infection, called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a bacterial infection that has at times shown it is resistant to many kinds of antibiotics. If it cannot be treated sepsis could develop. MRSA on the skin can usually be treated, but if it gets into the body via a wound, then sepsis could occur.
When sepsis reaches its most serious stage, it is called septic shock. This is when your circulatory system and heart start to fail and your blood pressure falls. Your organs will not be able to function normally as they are starved of blood. At this stage you will need to be admitted to intensive care in a hospital where your doctor will administer antibiotics in order to fight the sepsis. Your body may need to be supported at this stage with oxygen and IV fluids and medicine to prevent any fall in your blood pressure.
If you think you have sepsis you need to get to a hospital as soon as possible.