Is Sepsis Fatal?
Sepsis is a condition that takes place when your immune system becomes confused and starts to attack your body, instead of fighting viruses or bacteria that invade it. There is no infection that cannot become septic. Once the condition develops, time can be of the essence. Sepsis is a severe and an extreme immune response to the infection that causes it. Widespread inflammation occurs due to chemicals that are released into the blood to counter infection. it is a major disease that affects the blood stream.
Sepsis is 75% fatal if it attacks when you are not in the hospital, and 25% fatal if it strikes while you are already admitted. The mortality can drop tremendously if the necessary steps are taken. Every year, almost 750,000 Americans are stricken by Sepsis. Victims normally suffer from vomiting, continuous fever, confusion and chills. The condition only intensifies as it progresses. If these symptoms appear, contact your doctor or a medical practitioner immediately. Many people aren’t aware of sepsis, or they know nothing regarding the condition. It is one of the top conditions that cause death in the United States. It can develop abruptly and progress at a rapid pace, making it hard to recognize. There are a few treatment options for those suffering from Sepsis. However, success is far from guaranteed. Physicians often take drastic action in order to fight the infection and the mortality is around 40 percent, which is very low. But with aggressive treatment and care, it can be lowered down to approximately 25 percent. The patient will be more likely to survive if they receive treatment early. If there is severe sepsis, the patient needs to be closely monitored and treated in the ICU. Lifesaving steps should be taken to stabilize the vital statistics of the heart, brain and respiration functions in case septic shock occurs.
Who is at risk?
The people who are most vulnerable to the disease are infants, children and the elderly. Those who suffer from physical trauma, severe burns, weak immune system or long-term conditions like liver disease, diabetes, and cancer have a greater chance of getting Sepsis.
Causes of Sepsis
Common infections like UTI, cellulitis, pneumonia and abdominal infections are believed to be the major causes of Sepsis. These infections can be acquired from places like hospitals, medical facilities and in the community. Some invasive medical operations can cause the development of bacteria in the blood, resulting in the formation of sepsis disease. Usually, when part of your body gets a minor cut, swelling and discoloration are observed near the injured area. This is a sign that the immune system is doing its best to ensure that you do not develop infection. By engaging the platelets and white blood cells in the formation of a blood clot to cease further bleeding.
Complications arising from sepsis
Crucial organs such as the kidneys and the liver can be damaged by severe sepsis. Septic shock can occur when the blood pressure drops. Blood pressure drops to dangerous levels due to the immune response that battles the infection, causing septic shock. Death can occur as the drop in blood pressure leads to a lack of oxygen in the blood, which in turn leads to organ failure. An estimated one million Americans are affected by septic shock or severe sepsis annually. Out of one million, 200,000 of them lose their lives while still in the hospital. The majority of survivors recover fully, while others experience lasting complications like problems with their mental capacity and permanent organ damage. Sepsis is not a single disease, but rather a syndrome. Bacteria can invade any of the body’s organs, like the lung to cause pneumonia or the kidney to cause pyelonephritis. Then the bacteria enter the blood stream, causing a massive inflammatory response that results in most or all of the patient’s organs shutting down. The inflammatory response in sepsis is extremely complicated. The medical interventions used to treat sepsis are equally complicated and multifaceted.
There are many facets to sepsis, but one of the most complicated aspects is the plugging of capillaries. Plugged capillaries prevent oxygen and the supply of life-supporting materials to your organ tissue and stop the removal of metabolic waste product. Plugged capillaries are seen in organs of septic patients. These organs may eventually fail, leading to multiple organ failure and death. According to research, oxidative stress and the activated blood clotting pathway are the major factors responsible for capillary plugging in sepsis.
According to studies
Various infections can trigger sepsis, but community-acquired pneumonia is the main cause of sepsis. A study is still underway to determine why some infected people have severe sepsis, while others remain unaffected by it. Research to diagnose and treat sepsis is still ongoing. Sepsis patients will likely recover if the condition is diagnosed early, and quick treatment with antibiotics and fluids is administered to stabilize blood pressure levels. Simple interventions that are cost-effective can save lives. The likelihood of survival in sepsis patients has doubled due to early diagnosis and treatment. Survival of sepsis patients depends on early awareness and diagnosis of the condition. Antimicrobial treatment and resuscitation, together with support for vital organs is very important. Every single hour that passes matters in the treatment of sepsis, since it is a medical emergency. Having good knowledge on sepsis will help prevent infections that lead to it. Vaccinations could also prevent the infection that leads to sepsis.
In the past 2 decades, the number of deaths in sepsis patients has gone up. Many reasons have led to this increased number. Because of the strong medication used in cancer treatment and organ transplants, the immune system weakens. This weakness leads to an increase in sepsis among patients. The number of senior citizens with weak immune systems has grown due to an increase in the aging population.
Frequent use of antibiotics can also cause bacteria to become immune to the antibiotics, making sepsis treatment very hard. Unless the symptoms are diagnosed and immediate treatment is started to flush out the toxins, Sepsis is fatal.
