Early diagnosis and treatment are important in sepsis. Therefore, it is important for people showing signs of infection to seek medical help without delay. People at risk, especially the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, diabetics, cancer patients, and those with chronic kidney or liver disease, should pay particular attention to their infections.
What is sepsis?
To answer the question of what sepsis means, we can briefly say that it is damage to the body’s own tissues. Sepsis is a serious infection in which the body overreacts and damages its own tissues. It usually begins with the spread of a bacterial infection, but other microorganisms such as viruses, fungi, or parasites can also cause sepsis. Sepsis is a rapidly progressive and life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
What causes sepsis?
Sepsis occurs as a result of excessive activation of the immune system’s response. The body reacts by producing excessive amounts of chemicals it secretes to control the infection. These chemicals can damage the body’s own tissues, leading to organ failure, circulatory disorders and even death.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
Symptoms of sepsis often vary depending on the location and extent of the infection. Symptoms of sepsis include:
- Fever or hypothermia
- difficulty breathing
- rapid heartbeat
- mental status change
- decreased urination
- changes in the skin
- Pain
- septic shock
- organ failure
- Blood clotting and bleeding disorder
How is sepsis treated?
Sepsis treatment varies depending on the severity of the patient’s condition and the source of the infection. Antibiotic therapy forms the basis of treatment. Sepsis can disrupt organ functions, so vital functions such as blood pressure, breathing and kidney functions are monitored and supportive treatments can be applied when necessary. Sepsis can lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Therefore, intravenous fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy is applied. If the cause of sepsis is a wound or abscess, this wound may need to be surgically cleaned and drained. The methods generally used in the treatment of sepsis are as follows:
- antibiotics
- Medicines to raise blood pressure, support kidney function
- Respirator
- Dialysis
- In some cases, surgical procedure
Will sepsis go away?
Although sepsis is a serious condition, the mortality rate can be significantly reduced with early diagnosis and treatment. We can answer the question of whether sepsis can be cured as follows:
Most people can recover from mild sepsis. However, if the condition progresses to septic shock, unfortunately the mortality rate is high.
This information is for informational purposes only. If you have a medical problem, please consult your doctor.