Septic shock is when you experience a severe drop in blood pressure that may lead to respiratory or heart failure, stroke, and even death. However, it is the final stage of sepsis. The cause of sepsis is an infection in the body and it can cause drastic changes in the body. In sepsis, the infection reaches the bloodstream and causes inflammation in the body. In the second stage of sepsis, the infection starts affecting major organs of the body such as the kidney, heart, and liver. Moreover, it is a common cause of death in intensive care units in the United States.
As mentioned before, septic shock is the final stage of sepsis. Hence, for its early prevention symptoms of sepsis should be taken seriously.
Hence, these early symptoms should not be ignored and one should immediately consult a doctor for a checkup.
However, in severe cases, the symptoms escalate leading to septic shock. Those symptoms include:
Hence these symptoms along with a sudden drop in blood pressure which does not respond to fluid replacement is a sure shot way to identify a septic shock.
A viral, fungal or bacterial infection causes sepsis in the body. However, sepsis commonly originates from:
However, septic shock is a severe medical condition and more than 50% of the cases will result in death. Hence, the chances of surviving it depends on the source of infection, how many organs are affected and how early the treatment is provided.
Written by: J. Dias