“I didn’t know about sepsis when I got sick. I want to help save lives by educating other people about sepsis. It is important to recognize early signs and symptoms of a worsening infection and sepsis. Had I known that either a high or low body temperature indicates a serious illness, I would have gone to the hospital sooner.” – Katy Grainer, a sepsis survivor
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There’s one celebration that most Filipinos don’t know. It’s called World Sepsis Day. Perhaps the reason why we are not aware of this is that we don’t know much about the disease.
In fact, I have heard of several people who were victimized by sepsis. They reportedly ignored it until it caused their untimely death.
Even if you survive it, it doesn’t mean your struggles with sepsis end. As Sagip Sepsis Philippines explains, “Most sepsis survivors experience long recovery periods, and may still require therapy or medical assistance after hospitalization.”
Now, that’s scary, indeed.
World Sepsis Day, which is celebrated every September 13, is organized by the Global Sepsis Alliance. It started in 2012 and is held every year as an opportunity for people globally to unite in the fight against sepsis.
Sepsis begins with an infection. So, if you think you have an infection of any kind, see your doctor immediately. Despite advances in modern medicine like vaccines, antibiotics, and acute care, millions of people around the world – one in five – die of sepsis every year.
“Sepsis is the body’s life-threatening inflammatory response to an infection that can damage its own tissues and organs,” explains the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA). “Sepsis is a time-critical emergency that can lead to shock and potentially death if not recognized early and not treated promptly.”
Contrary to what most people believe, sepsis is not blood poisoning or septicemia – these are infections in the blood. “Instead, sepsis is the body’s reaction to the infection that is not controlled and needs urgent treatment to stop the reaction.”
Sepsis is a medical emergency and doctors say it is very difficult to recognize, diagnose and treat. “Up to 50% of sepsis survivors have long terms and in some cases life-long consequences,” GSA points out.
Time is critical. So, if you or someone you know is feeling really unwell and not sure why then contact a health professional or go to the closest emergency department and always ask: “Could it be sepsis?”
In the past, doctors identified three stages of the disease: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. Today, they identify the condition on a more fluid scale. This scale ranges from infection and bacteremia (bacteria in your bloodstream) to sepsis and septic shock, which can lead to dysfunction of multiple organs and even death.
According to the Mayo Clinic, sepsis comes in several symptoms. These may include change in mental status, fast, shallow breathing, sweating for no clear reason, feeling lightheaded, and shivering.
“Symptoms of sepsis are not specific,” the Mayo Clinic says. “They can vary from person to person, and sepsis may appear differently in children than in adults.”
In children, the World Health Organization (WHO) shares the following symptoms: fast breathing, convulsions, pale skin, lethargy, difficulty waking up, and feeling cold to the touch. In children under 5 years old, it can cause difficulty feeding, frequent vomiting or lack of urination.
If nothing is done, sepsis may progress to septic shock. Septic shock is a severe drop in blood pressure. Progression to septic shock raises the risk of death. Symptoms of septic shock, according to the Mayo Clinic, include not being able to stand up, strong sleepiness or having a hard time staying awake, and major change in mental status, such as extreme confusion.
The Mayo Clinic reminds us that any type of infection can lead to sepsis. This includes bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Those that more commonly cause sepsis include infections of lungs, such as pneumonia; kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system; digestive system; bloodstream; catheter sites; and wounds or burns.
Anyone can be affected by an infection but there are people who are more vulnerable to sepsis than others. The WHO identifies the following as “at higher risk”: older persons, pregnant or recently pregnant women, neonates, hospitalized patients, patients in intensive care units, people with weakened immune systems, and people with chronic medical conditions like kidney disease and cirrhosis.
“Sepsis treatment needs to begin immediately,” says the Cleveland Clinic. “The most important concern in sepsis protocol is a quick diagnosis and prompt treatment.”
If a person is diagnosed with sepsis, he is usually placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital for special treatment. The following treatments may be given: antibiotics (if it is caused by a bacterial infection) and intravenous fluids (to maintain blood flow to the organs and prevent blood pressure from dropping too low), and vasopressor medications (to tighten blood vessels).
“If organ failures occur,” the Cleveland Clinic says, “the patient needs other sepsis treatments such as dialysis for kidney failure or mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure.”
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. According to the United Nations health agency, sepsis can be prevented by treating infections early and through good hygiene at home and in healthcare settings.
