What is 'Sepsis'? 3 specific symptoms and prevention methods

 

Do you know the disease called 'sepsis'? Sepsis is a disease that causes organ failure due to the dysfunction of organs such as the heart and lungs due to bacterial or viral infection. This time, we will explain the symptoms, causes, examination and diagnosis, treatment of sepsis, etc.

sepsis symptoms

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Sepsis is a condition in which a bacterial infection, such as the bacteria that causes a bacterial infection (pneumococcus, influenzae, staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and dragon bacillus, etc.) state.

A characteristic feature of sepsis symptoms is the appearance of various symptoms throughout the body.

In addition to the characteristic symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, headache, shortness of breath, and cough caused by the infectious disease that is the cause, the systemic symptoms include abnormal body temperature rise and fall, heart rate rise, respiratory rate increase, chills, tremors, and cold hands and feet. .

Psychiatric symptoms may also include disturbances in consciousness or confusion in which one cannot know where or when one is located. In addition, sepsis is prone to worsening of symptoms, and serious symptoms such as low blood pressure, decreased urine output, and shortness of breath occur. In sepsis, the blood flow of the organ is lowered and the function is impaired. As the symptoms progress, necrosis and decay of the organ tissue occur.

Causes of sepsis

What is sepsis?

Usually, in infectious diseases, disorders occur only in organs such as the throat, nose, trachea, and kidneys that have been infected with the pathogen. By the way, sepsis is not only local symptoms, but as the disorder spreads throughout the body, an abnormal increase in body temperature, an increase in heart rate, an increase in respiration rate, an abnormal increase in white blood cell count, and a decrease in abnormality appear. Also, as the disorder progresses, organs throughout the body fail, leading to a condition called septic shock. Early treatment is necessary because it causes life-threatening low blood pressure. Sepsis may be due to progression from a mild infectious disease, and special attention is required if fever symptoms are prolonged due to infants, the elderly, or those with chronic diseases.

What causes sepsis?

Sepsis occurs from bacterial or viral infections such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and streptococci, and the causative bacteria proliferate in the body after pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or skin or intestinal infection. A substance called cytokine is generated by the toxin of the causative bacteria of these infectious diseases. Cytokines not only cause inflammation in the body, but also widen blood vessels to lower blood pressure or to harden blood in thin blood vessels. Sepsis is characterized by damage to and dysfunction of organs where blood flow is reduced. Regardless of age or gender, the possibility of developing sepsis due to any infectious disease is not zero, but caution is necessary because the risk increases especially in the elderly 65 years or older, infants, and diseases with reduced immune function.

Inspection and diagnosis of sepsis

What are the tests and diagnoses for sepsis?

Sepsis is diagnosed through blood tests, blood culture tests, blood gas analysis tests, and imaging tests.

blood test

What is a blood test? Blood tests are done to measure the level of inflammation in the body, kidney function, and liver function. Sepsis is characterized by an increase and decrease in white blood cells, especially in the blood. In addition to the diagnosis, blood tests can also confirm the severity of sepsis, so it is repeated to determine the effectiveness of treatment.

blood culture test

What is a blood culture test?

In sepsis, bacteria are in the blood that is originally sterile. By performing a blood culture test of the collected blood, the presence or absence of bacteria in the blood and the type of bacteria can be identified. Identification of the causative bacteria causing sepsis is effective in selecting an appropriate antibacterial agent.

image inspection

What is a burn test?

In order to detect systemic organ damage due to sepsis, imaging tests such as X-ray, CT, and MRI are performed depending on the symptoms.

How to treat sepsis

What are the treatment options for sepsis?

Sepsis treatment is carried out in parallel with 'basic treatment for the causative organism' and 'treatment to prevent blood pressure drop and its long-term disability'.

1. Fundamental treatment for causative bacteria

As a fundamental treatment, the pathogen is quickly identified and the appropriate antibacterial agent is administered. In addition, if there is an organ disorder due to infection, surgical excision is performed.

2. Treatment to reduce blood pressure and prevent long-term disability

As a treatment to reduce blood pressure and prevent organ disorders, initial treatment is performed with oxygen administration and large amounts of fluid to maintain blood pressure and oxygen concentration in the blood. Drugs that increase blood pressure (catecholamines) are sometimes given. If necessary, systemic management is performed through artificial respiration or blood purification treatment. In addition, the treatment of sepsis may include platelet transfusion, administration of fresh plasma, and administration of anti-inflammatory agents such as gamma globulin. In addition, if necessary, systemic management is performed through artificial respiration or population dialysis. As such, sepsis is a disease that causes life-threatening tissue disorders or organ failure, so systemic management and treatment in the intensive care unit are required.

What are the preventive measures for hemorrhage?

There are three important ways to prevent sepsis:

1. Vaccination

Vaccination to prevent infectious diseases, such as pneumococcal vaccine or influenza vaccine. For more information about the vaccine and when to get it, talk to your doctor.

2. Maintaining hygiene

Wash your hands regularly, remember to brush your teeth, and if you are injured, practice good hygiene, such as washing your wounds well.

3. Respond early

Sepsis progresses over time, so early detection is important to prevent worsening.

Symptoms of sepsis include chills and tremors, body aches and discomfort, cold and moist skin, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, and tachycardia. In addition, preventive measures for sepsis to be taken into account in daily life are as follows.

• Wash yourself and your family's hands thoroughly and often
• Avoid contact with people who are crowded or have an infection, such as a cold
• Take a bath or shower every day to keep your body clean
• Use lotion to prevent dry skin or rough skin
• Use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth or to care for your gums
• Do not share utensils such as utensils or toothbrushes with others.
• When eating meat or eggs, sterilize and cook
• Wash raw vegetables and fruits thoroughly
• Do not touch the manure of pets or livestock
• Wear gloves and wash your hands quickly after handling animal droppings
• Wear gloves when handling garden plants

What are the sequelae of sepsis?

Although sepsis is completely curable with treatment in most cases, as with other diseases that require intensive care, some patients have long-term effects with sequelae. Symptoms that can be seen as sequelae include insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, lack of sleep, nightmares, hallucinations, panic, difficulty in muscle movement, joint pain, cognitive decline, loss of self-esteem or self-belief, kidney failure, organ dysfunction such as respiratory function, Loss of a limb, such as by amputation of a limb.

What are the steps to recovery from sepsis?

The recovery phase from sepsis usually begins during hospitalization. In the early stages of rehabilitation, it starts with slow movement or self-care with assistance such as bathing, sitting, standing, walking, or toilet. The ultimate goal of rehabilitation is to return to the state you were in when you were as healthy as possible. Rehabilitation is not rushed, but gradually increase your activity, and if you are tired, take a break.

organize

Sepsis can occur at any time, in anyone, after some infectious disease and can affect any part of the body. Most people who recover from sepsis return to their normal lives, but some leave permanent long-term disability. For example, a person who originally had impaired kidney function may need impaired dialysis because sepsis causes further deterioration of the kidney. Sepsis is an emergency disease, so if you have symptoms of concern, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.