Septic Shock Symptoms

Septic shock is an extremely dangerous medical condition that can be fatal if it is not treated immediately. To diagnose the condition, a doctor will use a blood test to check for any infections and to see if the blood pressure has been lowered. A chest X-ray may show further evidence of infection or trauma, and a physical examination can be used to try to narrow down which part of the body is being affected.

Identification

• Septic shock is an extremely serious condition that causes the internal organs of the body to suffer from lack of blood. It is a broad-ranging condition that can be caused by a variety of bacterial or viral infections, and when it strikes, it has the potential to be fatal. It normally occurs as a reaction to a powerful infection that puts toxins into the blood stream and brings the blood pressure down. There may be blood vessels that begin to leak causing internal bleeding, and there is a possibility that the inflammation caused by the actual infection itself will also help to damage the internal organs.

Types

• The very initial stages of septic shock may seem like a normal body reaction to a cut or some other injury. The skin may become red, it may become tender to the touch, and the redness may slowly start to spread. Over time, the rash will start to swell, and the swelling will get noticeably worse as time goes by. As the condition starts to attack internal organs, other symptoms such as a fever and a rapid heart rate will begin to develop. The person may find themselves short of breath and unable to breathe, and this will cause dizziness and even fainting.

Effects

• As septic shock continues to develop, it will begin to show more characteristic symptoms. These include a fluctuation in temperature from very low to very high, chills and excessive sweating, confusion and restlessness, a feeling of being very anxious, a drop in the frequency of urination, and a very low blood pressure, which is most noticeable in the standing position and is characterized by cold and clammy skin. The cold skin is most evident in the fingers and toes.

Potential

• One of the conditions that untreated septic shock can lead to is adult respiratory distress syndrome. This is a condition where the lungs begin to fill with fluid making breathing extremely difficult. As this condition progresses the person begins to feel like they are trying to breathe underwater, and prolonged exposure to this condition can become fatal.

Warning

• While it is possible for septic shock to strike anyone, it is normally more prevalent in the very young or the very old. The condition thrives on people with weak immune systems, which means that it does not normally affect healthy adults, but it does attack people with weakened immune systems as a result of such conditions as HIV and cancer. It can also occur to people that are receiving a blood transfusion, or anyone that has received a bone marrow transplant.