All people have immune systems which are the body’s natural protection against disease. In most cases, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms are not able to damage the body because the immune system is powerful enough to protect it. It is composed of a complex combination of proteins, cells and organs. From time to time conditions might be just right for an infection to take place but scientists have through time learned all about that. As a response vaccinations have been developed against serious illnesses, such as polio, measles and tetanus. Vaccines trick the body into making it thinking it has already had the illness, so that it develops immunity to it. There are other drugs available too, like anti-fungals, anti-virals and antiparasitics, which help protect the body from illness,
Not everyone has a good immune system
Some people do not have a good immune system, which makes them more susceptible to bad infections which could lead to sepsis.
There are several potential causes of a suppressed immune system as mentioned below:
- Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, can help to destroy cancer cells, but at the same time can damage healthy cells which are necessary to fight infections. This means those being treated for cancer must take extra care to avoid other infections. This includes those receiving stem cell or bone marrow transplants. When people are prepared for a transplant like this they go through chemotherapy first to eliminate the cancer cells and depress their immune system so the transplant is not rejected by the body.
- Organ transplants and infections.
- When someone has an organ transplant his/her body may reject the new organ as it seems like an invader. To help prevent this taking place, people take anti – rejection or immunosuppressant drugs. They may have side effects of which one is the reduction in ability to fight off infections, like the common cold making them more vulnerable to sepsis.
- The effect of drugs on the immune system.
- Some drugs available today improve the quality of life for their recipients and even lengthen it. However, often serious side effects occur such as the increase in vulnerability to developing infections.. The sorts of medicines that tend to do this are corticosteroids, like prednisone, and a TNF inhibitor which is sometimes prescribed for certain autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
How to stop sepsis when taking drugs
If the immune system is suppressed due to certain medications, special care has to be taken to prevent an infection which could lead to sepsis developing. This means hand washing more than usual, keeping up-to-date with vaccinations, and getting treatment immediately there is any sign of an infection. If you have been told you are immunocompromised and think you have developed an infection, when you see your doctor or another health professional you should be quick to tell them of your susceptibility to having an immunocompromised status so they can treat you with the right drugs before you get sepsis.
Symptoms of sepsis
If you do get sepsis you will notice the symptoms and you will require immediate treatment. The symptoms are:
- difficulty breathing;
- feeling very cold and shivery;
- feverish;
- in great pain;
- the skin goes pale or discoloured;
- falling into a confused state;
- feeling very sleepy and difficult to stay awake.