Sepsis is a serious medical condition that occurs when the body’s response to an infection causes harm to the tissues and organs. Sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death. It can happen to anyone at any age, but it’s most common in young children and older adults. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are critical for people with sepsis.
This condition can be caused by any infection, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The most common infections that lead to sepsis are pneumonia, abdominal infection, kidney infection, blood poisoning, and urinary tract infection. However, any infection can potentially cause sepsis.
Sepsis is diagnosed by taking a medical history and doing a physical examination. Blood tests are also done to look for signs of infection or inflammation. Other tests, such as chest x-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans, are also done to look for the source of the infection.
Sepsis is treated in the hospital with intravenous (IV) antibiotics and fluids. Individuals suffering from sepsis may also need oxygen therapy and breathing assistance if they experience breathing difficulties. In severe cases, patients may need surgery to remove the infection’s source or repair damaged tissues or organs.
Fevers and Chills
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that arises when the infection spreads throughout the body. Infection can cause sepsis, characterized by a dangerously high body temperature. Fever is one of the body’s natural responses to infection.
When bacteria or other harmful agents enter the body, the immune system works to destroy them by releasing chemicals known as cytokines into the bloodstream. These cytokines cause inflammation, which triggers the hypothalamus to raise the body’s temperature to fight the bacteria or other invading agents.
In most cases, this increase in temperature is relatively mild and goes away once the infection has been cleared. However, in some cases, such as when a person has sepsis, the body’s inflammatory response can become excessive. Feverish patients often feel cold because their core body temperature has dropped below the normal 98.6°F (37°C). As a result of this drop in temperature, heart rate and respiration increase to generate heat and raise the core body temperature back to normal levels. Some patients may experience chills or shaking as their bodies try to generate heat through muscle contractions.
