Breathing Difficulty
One of the most common symptoms of sepsis is difficulty in breathing. It is one of the main reasons why people with sepsis are hospitalized in the first place. There are several reasons why sepsis can cause difficulty in breathing. One of the most common is that the inflammatory response triggered by sepsis can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema. This fluid buildup makes it difficult for oxygen to get into the bloodstream, which in turn makes it difficult to breathe. Other possible causes of breathing difficulties in sepsis patients include pneumonia, collapsed lung or atelectasis, and low blood pressure.
Sometimes, the difficulty in breathing may be due to an underlying infection. For example, if the lungs are infected, as in the case of pneumonia, this can make it difficult to breathe. Similarly, if the infection is causing inflammation of the airways, this can also lead to difficulty in breathing. Treatment for these types of infections typically includes antibiotics and other medications, depending on the severity of the infection.
