Sepsis is a serious medical condition that occurs when your body overreacts to a detected threat, such as bacteria, fungus, or a virus enters your bloodstream. The infection in the blood is called septicemia. Your body sends an overabundance of chemicals into your bloodstream to fight the infection, thereby causing uncontrolled, widespread inflammation. If left untreated, it can lead to organ failure or even become life-threatening as the infection moves on to later stages and cause septic shock.
While sepsis can most certainly affect anyone, the elderly, those with a weakened immune system, babies less than 3 months old, and people with diabetes are more at risk of getting an infection. Bacteria in the bloodstream is oftentimes the culprit. A simple papercut on your finger or scraped elbow can serve as a gateway to allow bacteria to enter your body. Other medical conditions, such as pneumonia or meningitis, can also put an individual at risk. With early detection, the condition is most commonly treated with antibiotics as most cases result from a bacterial infection. Advanced stages of sepsis will require more aggressive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, vasopressor medication, support for failing organs, or even surgery to remove sources of infection.
Read on to learn more about the condition’s symptoms.
1. Low Blood Pressure
An individual’s blood pressure tells how well blood is moving throughout their circulatory system. As the heart beats, blood is pumped throughout the body, delivering oxygen and energy. Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, generally occurs when the systolic pressure (pressure exerted against artery walls during heart beats) in the arteries is less than 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or the diastolic pressure (pressure exerted against artery walls when the heart is resting) is less than 60 mm HG during a blood pressure reading. Medical guidelines establish 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic) as normal blood pressure.
If adequate pressure if not maintained, low levels of pressure will not supply enough blood to the body’s organs, potentially causing shock to occur. Those who have experienced decreased blood pressure reported feeling faint, dizzy, nausea, fatigued, and had a lack of concentration as some of their symptoms. Extreme hypotension signs include weak and rapid pulse, rapid and shallow breathing, cold and clammy skin, and a state of confusion. When septicemia occurs in the body, it can cause seriously decreased blood pressure called septic shock. The most severe out of three stages (sepsis, severe sepsis), septic shock can bring about the failure of organs, stroke or death.
2. Shortness of Breath
Low blood pressure can affect the body’s organs, causing shortness of breath. Although shortness of breath is a sign that is often associated with asthma, anxiety or pneumonia, it can also be a sign of sepsis. The heart and lungs work to provide oxygen to tissues in your body. Carbon dioxide is also removed in the process. If a problem arises with either transporting oxygen to the body’s tissues or the removal of carbon dioxide, your breathing can be impacted. Sometimes referred to as dyspnea, shortness of breath may be linked to chest pain, anxiety, exhaustion, dizziness, fainting, wheezing, or coughing.
3. Delirium
Delirium, or acute brain syndrome, is a severe state of confusion. An individual may become disoriented about a place or time, experience changes in sleep patterns, unable to remember events (either before or after the delirium began), or have changes in their level of consciousness. Personality changes may occur as well, including anxiety, anger, depression, or irritability. While medical conditions and side effects of medication can cause delirium, acute brain syndrome also occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen or other substances. Infections and poisons may also prove to be the source of an individual’s altered state of thinking.
4. Organ Dysfunction
Organ dysfunction associated with sepsis results from the inflammation the body experiences. Not to be confused with organ failure, which occurs when organs can no longer function properly without assistance from medical intervention, organ dysfunction is considered an impairment of how an organ is expected to function. Organ dysfunction may occur anywhere in the body such as the liver, causing a condition known as jaundice where reduced or blocked excretion of bile from the liver has taken place, collecting in the bloodstream. Other targeted organs may include impaired oxygenation of the lungs, bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract, and reduced urine volume from kidney dysfunction.
5. Insufficient Urine Production
One of the first organs to be affected by sepsis are the kidneys. Sepsis is one of the leading causes of acute kidney injury, also known as AKI. Kidneys can be damaged by sepsis either through a kidney or bladder infection or as a result of the domino effect that sepsis has on the body. Speaking of the latter, the decreased blood pressure and the resulting deprivation of nutrients to the body’s tissues and organs that occur in the beginning stages of sepsis play a role in the kidneys’ failure. As fluids and toxins accumulate and backup in the body, you may notice insufficient urine production.
6. Fever
One of the most notable signs of an infection is a fever. While the average normal temperature of the human body is 98.6 F (37 C), a temperature of 101 F (38 C) or above may be a sign of sepsis. A sign commonly found in patients, a fever may not be present in elderly people. As the brain’s hypothalamus works to reset your body’s temperature in favor of a higher temperature. You may experience chills and want to put on a sweater or additional layers of clothing. It may also cause you to shiver as your body tries to generate more heat and keep itself warm.
7. Fast Heart Rate
A heart rate of more than 90 beats per minute (BPM) is indicative of a fast heart rate and may possibly be a symptom of sepsis. In addition to rapid breathing, confusion, and low blood pressure, the heart pumps at a faster pace as sepsis worsens. As mention previously, blood flow decreases to organs such as the kidneys, lungs, brain, and heart. To make up for the loss of blood flow, the heart works harder, increasing the amount of blood pumped and the heart rate. Heart rate, along with body temperature and breathing rate, is often used as diagnostic tools.
8. Altered Level of Consciousness
Oxygen to the brain is a vital component to be able to react and comprehend in a normal fashion. Without sufficient oxygen to the brain, a person may find themselves in an altered level of consciousness (ALOC). ALOC can occur as a result of the low blood pressure that is incited by sepsis. With an altered level of consciousness, a person’s ability to remain conscious, attentive, and oriented is weakened. Levels of ALOC include lethargy, stupor, confusion, delirium, disorientation, and even coma. A person may notice an altered level of consciousness if they begin to experience seizures, irregular heartbeat, increased body temperature, and decreased blood pressure.
9. Shivering
As your body tries to recover from the fever that was brought on by sepsis, it may resort to shivering. Shivering is the body’s attempt to raise the body’s temperature through shaking. Your teeth may even begin to chatter. Scientifically speaking, shivering is rapid contraction and relaxation of your body’s muscles. The hypothalamus sends a signal to the muscles to contract and expand quickly. This heat inducing mechanism is uncontrollable because it is actually a reflex. Although shivering can be induced from a fever brought on by a bacterial or viral infection, it normally occurs when you are simply cold.
10. Fatigue
Fatigue and drowsiness are terms that are often used to describe the same issue. However, there is a difference. Drowsiness emanates from a lack of sleep, which should not be confused with fatigue, defined as the lack of energy and drive, whether physical or mental. This symptom can be caused by inadequate blood flow to tissues throughout the body as well as infection and inflammation, key symptoms of sepsis. A fatigued person may have no motivation to begin a task, feels exhausted after starting an activity, and find concentrating difficult. Individuals often use words as tired, worn out, exhausted, and feeling run down to describe the feeling.
