Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It is the most severe stage of sepsis, which is the body's overall response to infection.
Learn about why people can go into septic shock and what the symptoms are.
What is septic shock?
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's reaction to a severe infection. It is a severe form of sepsis, which is the body's overall reaction to infection.
Septic shock occurs when the body's immune system responds to infection by causing severe disruption in blood circulation and widespread organ dysfunction.
The immune system's response to infection causes the release of chemicals (cytokines) into the bloodstream. These cytokines cause widespread inflammation throughout the body, causing blood vessels to dilate, blood clots to form, and disrupting normal blood flow.
Ultimately, vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and brain do not receive enough blood and oxygen supply. As a result, organ function is severely impaired, potentially leading to death.
Read more: Different Types Of Heart Infection
Symptoms of septic shock
There are three stages of septic shock, each with its own set of symptoms.
Early-stage septic shock symptoms include:
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever or hypothermia
- Chills
- Pale, warm and sweaty skin
- Confusion or disorientation
- Irregular breathing
- Shortness of breath
Symptoms of later-stage septic shock include:
- Very low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Little urine output
- Heart palpitations
- Pale and cold skin
- Skin rash
Read more: Types Of Infectious Diseases That Often Affect Children
Cause of septic shock
Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections can all lead to sepsis. These infections can come from a variety of sources and occur at home or in the hospital while being treated for another condition.
The most common infections that cause sepsis include:
- Stomach or digestive system infections
- Lung infections, such as pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Reproductive system infections
- A person may also develop septic shock due to several factors, including:
- Having recently undergone surgical treatment and having to be hospitalized for a long time
- Having diabetes
- Use of catheters, breathing tubes and so on that are at risk of exposure to bacteria
- Taking immunosuppressant drugs (drugs that suppress the immune system)
Doctors will usually provide care and treatment for septic shock, such as antibiotics administered via a drip, vasopressor therapy, insulin, or corticosteroids. Although sepsis shock can be fatal, many people recover from it.
To prevent septic shock, you should get proper treatment, especially if you have a bacterial or viral infection. Consult with your doctor before taking antibiotics or immunosuppressants, and complete all immunizations as directed.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
Looking for more information about other diseases? Click here!
- Sean Edbert Lim, MBBS
Cleveland Clinic (2022). Septic Shock. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23255-septic-shock
Jessica DiGiacinto and Shannon Johnson (2021). Septic Shock. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/septic-shock
NHS Inform (2023). Heart palpitations. Available from: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/heart-and-blood-vessels/conditions/heart-palpitations
Cleveland Clinic (2021). Immunosuppressants. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/10418-immunosuppressants
Mayo Clinic (2022). Antibiotics: Are you misusing them?. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720
Rush Jessen Hickman, MD (2022). What to Know About Immunosuppressive Therapies. Available from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/immunosuppressants-4846160
