The origin of blood poisoning is an infection to which the immune system reacts incorrectly. If left untreated, such sepsis can be life-threatening. Here you can find out the signs of blood poisoning.
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What is blood poisoning?
Blood poisoning (sepsis) is caused by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. If these get into the lymphatic system and the blood, there are life-threatening consequences. Blood poisoning can be caused by injuries and inflammation of various organs. According to estimates by the German Hospital Society, around 125,000 to 300,000 people develop sepsis every year. It is not fully understood why blood poisoning occurs. According to current knowledge, the immune system reacts inappropriately to the infection. Normally, the body’s own defense cells release messenger substances in the event of an infection in order to fight the pathogens. In the case of sepsis, these immune cells fail.
Blood poisoning can be divided into three degrees of severity – simple sepsis , severe sepsis and septic shock .
- Simple sepsis: This form is a mild blood poisoning caused by gastrointestinal inflammation or tooth abscesses. Drug treatment is usually sufficient.
- Severe sepsis: In the case of severe blood poisoning, patients usually have to be treated in the intensive care unit. There is a risk of organ failure, for example heart and kidneys .
- Septic Shock: Septic shock occurs when blood pressure drops sharply as part of severe blood poisoning. The organs cannot be supplied with sufficient oxygen. Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that can lead to death.
Signs of blood poisoning
In order to treat sepsis in the best possible way, early diagnosis is crucial. However, the transitions from an initial infection to sepsis are fluid. To make matters worse, the symptoms such as fever, high blood pressure or changes in breathing can be non-specific and indicate other diseases. For this reason, these four cornerstones, which narrow down the symptoms more precisely, provide information as to whether the symptoms are sepsis.
These include a severe inflammatory response , characterized by changes in body temperature (below 36 degrees or above 38 degrees), increased heart rate (above 90 beats per minute), rapid breathing (above 20 breaths per minute), and white blood cell count (above 12,000 or below 4,000 per microliter of blood) can be detected. If at least two of the four criteria listed are met, it is blood poisoning.
Another sign of blood poisoning is changes in consciousness. Affected people may appear disoriented, confused, or restless. Skin changes can also occur with skepticism. Small red spots form, which merge into larger dark red or bluish spots. These look similar to bruises .
