Covid-19 is one of the worst medical crises that have been witnessed in decades. The viral disease comes with a lot of negatives. There’s death in severe cases. There’s also difficulty in breathing, requiring hospitalization and assisted breathing.
In addition to the direct effects of covid-19 on the body, there’s one that may not be as immediate and direct: sepsis. This condition has been around for a long time. However, it has recently become more prominent, mostly due to the rising number of infections as a result of covid-19.
Sepsis is a dangerous condition. If untreated, it can lead to death.
This is why medical diagnostics companies like MeMed have come up with various forms of a sepsis diagnosis test. The speedy diagnosis of sepsis can facilitate treatment and increase the chances of a full recovery.
But before we dive into sepsis diagnostics, let’s first answer a couple of general questions. For example, what exactly is Sepsis? What causes it and how can it be treated?
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a condition in which the body’s health begins to deteriorate because it has overreacted to an infection. It occurs when the chemicals that the body releases to fight an infection cause a chain reaction in the body. Such reactions often start in the urinary tract, the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, or the skin. Once the chain reaction is triggered, it spreads fast, causing tissue damage, organ failure, and – with time – death.
Sepsis results in symptoms such as difficulty breathing, quick heart rate, low blood pressure, fever, and mental confusion.
Other symptoms include excess sleepiness, dizziness, delirium, low urine output, chills, fatigue, flushing, and shivering.
For sepsis to be treated, it requires a diagnosis. There is no single method of diagnosing sepsis. It can be done through lab tests to detect organ failure. The lab tests can also be used to detect the infection that led to sepsis.
It can also be done through a sepsis diagnosis test, such as the one provided by MeMed.
In addition, for one to be diagnosed with sepsis, the following signs and symptoms must be present:
- The rate of breathing must be at least 22 breaths per minute
- Blood pressure must be at most 100 mm Hg.
- There must be a notable change in the individual’s mental status.
What Happens to Your Body When You Have Sepsis
There are three stages of sepsis: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock.
Stage 1 sepsis is marked by symptoms such as rapid breathing, mental confusion, and a quicker heart rate. If a patient notices any of these symptoms, they should seek urgent medical attention. Medical intervention at this stage is highly effective.
Severe sepsis occurs when organ failure starts as a result of sepsis. It can be marked by extreme weakness, chills, unconsciousness, discolored skin, change in mental status, irregular heartbeat, and a low platelet count.
Septic shock occurs when the chain effects of the body’s reaction to the infection go on unchecked. It is marked by all the above symptoms in addition to a drop in blood pressure. It can also be marked by blood clots that block blood flow, exacerbating organ failure and increasing the risk of conditions like gangrene. At this point, the risk of death is high.
Conclusion
The early detection of sepsis signs is important. Accurate and fast sepsis diagnostics are also crucial to allow for quick medical action to be taken against sepsis. Such action may include the administration of antibiotics and the maintenance of blood flow to organs.
People with risk factors for sepsis should take extra care. Such risk factors include old age, previous history of sepsis, diabetes, and a compromised immune system.
