Recognizing Sepsis: Key Signs and Symptoms

My husband and I do not enjoy going to doctor’s offices or hospitals. That is why, when my husband’s fever was rising rapidly last winter during a vacation, our first attempt at a solution was to treat it with acetaminophen. However, after purchasing the pain-and-fever-reducing medication and a thermometer, we discovered his fever had taken a turn for the worse and had risen to nearly 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

After informing our parents, who urged us to seek medical care, we headed to the closest emergency room (ER). After some tests, the doctors informed us he had a severe case of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), from which bacterial pneumonia had developed. Because of this infection, my husband was in a “pre-septic” state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection.” Much like the rapid chain of events that unfolded after my husband developed a mild cough, sepsis is a complication from an infection that snowballs. It involves chemicals released into the bloodstream that can cause inflammation throughout the body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

Soon after my husband was treated and had recovered after three days of hospitalization, I came across a tragic story of a young girl who had passed away from sepsis. In a lengthy social media post, the parent of the girl described her daughter’s symptoms and warned how quickly her child went from having mild RSV to dying of sepsis.

Many of us deal with infections from time to time—whether in the lungs, in the urinary or gastrointestinal tracts, or on the skin. Knowing that these smaller occurrences can rapidly develop to become life threatening could help you seek medical attention promptly when necessary—for you or a loved one.

Key Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing the early warning signs of sepsis is essential for timely intervention. Although symptoms can vary depending on the individual and underlying infection, common signs of sepsis include:

• Persistent fever or hypothermia: Sepsis can cause an unusually high fever that does not resolve with fever-reducing medicines, or abnormally low body temperature indicating an imbalance in the body’s response to infection.
• Rapid heart rate: Known as tachycardia, a significantly elevated heart rate may indicate that the body is struggling to cope with
  the infection.
• Rapid breathing: Also referred to as tachypnea, rapid breathing can be a sign of sepsis-related respiratory distress and inadequate oxygenation.
• Altered mental status: Confusion, disorientation, or extreme lethargy may occur because sepsis affects brain function, impairing cognitive abilities and consciousness.
• Low blood pressure: Hypotension, or abnormally low blood pressure, is a hallmark feature of septic shock.
• Signs of organ dysfunction: Sepsis can impair the function of various organs, leading to symptoms such as decreased urine output, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin mottling.

Although my husband’s ER and hospital stays were not enjoyable, the experience did teach us the valuable lesson of listening to your body and taking action. If you or someone you know exhibits any of the signs and symptoms of sepsis, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately. Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires prompt evaluation and treatment in a hospital setting. Delayed intervention can significantly increase the risk of complications and mortality.