Following an infection, Sepsis is the most common pathway to more serious setbacks or even death. Today, World Sepsis Day, physicians and specialists are striving to heighten awareness, shatter the stigma and share more of the facts about this preventable health concern.
According to Dr. Brian Zehr, MD, with Parkview Physicians Group, “Sepsis is an inflammatory response to an infection that can cause widespread damage to multiple organs. The infection can be bacterial, viral or fungal, and can start at a site far from the organs which are eventually affected.”
Common sites of the original infection include, “the urinary tract, lungs abdomen and the skin,” he said. In severe cases, Sepsis can cause death or lead to severe organ damage and permanent disability.
Dr. Zehr also mentions additional signs, including those associated with the original source of infection, such as frequency of urination or burning with urination (urinary tract infection), cough and mucus (pneumonia), abdominal pain or bowel changes (appendicitis or diverticulitis) or evidence of skin infection.
Contact your care provider immediately or seek emergency attention should you suspect you or a loved one is suffering from Sepsis. To learn more about World Sepsis Day, visit their site at www.world-sepsis-day.org.
