If you’ve had a loved one in the hospital for a serious disease, you’ve probably heard the term ‘sepsis.’ But you might not understand what it is and how vital getting good quality care is to recovery and even survival. Here’s a little ‘Sepsis 101’ so you’ll better understand what’s going on if someone you love is diagnosed with this potentially deadly condition.
In a nutshell, sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. When someone has an infection, the body sends a bunch of chemicals into the bloodstream to fight it. Those chemicals can cause inflammation throughout the body, and over a period of time can slow blood flow and damage organs. At worst it can result in death. That’s why getting treatment immediately is so important.
Sometimes sepsis develops in the hospital while patients are fighting a severe infection. The good news is that over time hospitals have become much more adept at early detection and identifying those patients who might be at highest risk for developing it. Hospitals have developed very specific protocols for treating sepsis which has made a significant difference in recovery and survival rates.
Sometimes sepsis is the result of something as seemingly harmless as a scrape on the knee. Wherever there is a possibility for infection, there’s a possibility for sepsis. So it’s really important to watch any area that could be getting infected for warning signs. And if infection does occur, signs that the person may becoming septic are fever and shaking chills, decreased urination, rapid pulse and rapid breathing, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.
Getting a diagnosis of sepsis as quickly as possible is key to a cure. If you suspect sepsis, get to the ER so a physician can conduct the appropriate tests to determine its source and prescribe the treatment right away. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to taking precautionary measures. But if you just aren’t sure if the person is exhibiting signs of sepsis, call your doctor, the local ER, or our free health information line, Consult-A-Nurse at (850) 325-3627.