Doctors marked World Sepsis Day on September 13 by urging the public to recognize the warning signs of sepsis, a life-threatening condition in which the body's response to an infection spirals out of control and can lead to organ damage or death.
A fever that will not break, difficulty breathing, confusion or a rapid decline in a person's overall condition can look, at first, like symptoms of an ordinary infection. But according to Enmanuel Antonio Nunez, an infectious disease specialist at Medico Express, those same symptoms can also mark the point where an infection has become sepsis.
Nunez said there is no single, fixed moment when an infection turns into sepsis, since the process depends on each person's body. Even so, he said an infection that advances quickly or whose symptoms persist should be treated as a warning sign.
Warning signs to watch for
Fever is a common symptom across many types of infection. But Nunez said a fever that persists, especially alongside other changes in a person's health, needs medical attention.
Other signs that an infection may be turning into a serious, potentially life-threatening condition include ongoing general malaise, difficulty breathing, confusion, excessive drowsiness, cloudy or pus-filled urine, and a rapid decline in overall condition.
Nunez said persistent fever can be mistaken for a common infection, but that if it comes with altered mental state or general deterioration, it requires immediate attention.
Who faces the highest risk
Anyone can develop sepsis from an infection, but Nunez said some groups face a greater risk, including people with weakened immune systems or certain chronic illnesses.
He said patients with poorly controlled diabetes, those at the extremes of age, people with multiple health conditions, patients undergoing chemotherapy or certain biologic treatments, and patients with HIV who have progressed to AIDS face a higher risk of sepsis.
In these groups, Nunez said, an infection can take a more complicated course, so it is important to watch for changes in overall condition and avoid dismissing symptoms that seem mild.
Why speed matters
Sepsis requires urgent attention largely because of how quickly it can progress. Nunez said the longer a patient goes without proper treatment, the greater the risk of complications.
He said the earlier sepsis is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of recovery, and the lower the risk of complications and death.
Delaying care allows the infection to progress and can affect the functioning of vital organs, Nunez said. In the most severe cases, sepsis can cause permanent damage to one or more organs and can be fatal.
Danger of self-medicating
Nunez said one of the most common mistakes people make when facing an infection is trying to manage it on their own, waiting several days to see whether symptoms go away without medical care. When sepsis is suspected, he said, self-medicating can be especially dangerous.
Taking medication without medical supervision carries added risk because incorrect doses or the wrong drugs can help microorganisms become resistant, making an infection harder to treat, according to Nunez.
World Sepsis Day is observed every September 13 to raise awareness of the condition and encourage people to recognize its symptoms and seek care quickly, according to the report.
