Sent home from hospital with anxiety diagnosis, man suffered from life-threatening infection

in collaboration with

Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)

At 28 years old, Joe DuPont is a solid, athletic and healthy American. A few weeks ago, however, he could still have succumbed, following an error in diagnosis. A situation to which he testifies in the DailyMail.

Red spots mistaken for a rash and a symptom of anxiety

In late April, Joe DuPont, 28, noticed red spots on his neck, chest and other parts of his body, but saw them as nothing more than a rash of some kind. But when these “pimples” still seem inflamed and start to ooze after a day, the young man decides to consult the hospital.

Although his rashes aren’t very “pretty,” doctors suspect a skin infection, coupled with signs of anxiety, and send Joe home with steroid cream and oral antibiotics.

Within 24 hours, symptoms worsen

But once home, Joe feels spasms and tremors, without panicking. “I took that as a sign that maybe my body was healing.” he explains. It’s a mistake: the next morning, when he wakes up, everything gets worse. “When I stood up, I felt fluid rushing into my legs, like fluid was literally pooling in my sandals.”

Fortunately, he decides to return to the emergency room: on the way, the young man experiences chest pains, a fever and begins to lose his vision. An ECG upon arrival revealed an irregular heartbeat and fluid building up around his heart.

Joe could have died of sepsis

Joe DuPont actually suffered from sepsis, which is the presence of bacteria (or even fungi or viruses) in the blood caused by a skin infection or other underlying pathogen. A situation which could have been fatal as the infection circulating in the bloodstream can attach to the heart.

Tests carried out during the hospital stay indicated endocarditis, which is inflammation of the inner lining around the chambers and valves of the heart. An echocardiogram also indicated tricuspid valve regurgitation, which occurs when the heart’s tricuspid valve does not close properly, leading to backflow of blood which can create heart failure. Treated in time, Mr. DuPont is now out of danger, even if he still suffers from side effects of cardiac origin.

Early symptoms of sepsis can be misleading

For Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo, this case is unfortunately not unique. “Sepsis (sepsis) can be difficult to diagnose especially at the beginning and lead to “mistakes”. In fact, the symptoms encountered can also occur in other pathologies.

• Tachycardia (accelerated heart rate);
• Tachypnea (rapid breathing) and difficulty breathing;
• Hypotension (drop in blood pressure);
• Mental confusion and reduced alertness, particularly in the elderly;
• Chills and general weakness;
• Oliguria (decreased urine production);
• Severe abdominal pain;
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea;
• Warm, red skin at first, then cold, pale and mottled as the condition worsens;
• Diaphoresis (excessive sweating)
• And a high fever, “although in some cases the temperature may be low”.

But more than the signs, it is the symptoms which worsen and in a short time that should alert you.

For his part, Joe DuPont has decided to do something with this traumatic experience: he now devotes part of his time to raising awareness of the dangers of diagnostic errors. And does his best to inform those around him about sepsis, which is not always known.