Septicemia Infections
What is Septicemia or Sepsis?
Septicemia is a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly. Septicemia is the clinical name for blood poisoning. Septicemia also called sepsis, septic or septicema can be deadly if not aggressively treated. It can arise from infections throughout the body, including infections in the lungs, abdomen, and urinary tract. It may come before or at the same time as infections of the bone (osteomyelitis), central nervous system (meningitis), or other tissues. Septicemia that progresses to septic shock has a death rate as high as 50 percent, depending on the type of organism involved. Septicemia is a medical emergency and requires urgent medical treatment.
Symptoms of Septicemia
Septicemia can begin with spiking fevers, chills, rapid breathing, and rapid heart rate. The person looks very ill. The symptoms rapidly progress to shock with decreased body temperature (hypothermia), falling blood pressure, confusion or other changes in mental status, and blood clotting problems that lead to a specific type of red spots on the skin (petechiae and ecchymosis). Patients with septicemia often develop a hemorrhagic rash - a cluster of tiny blood spots that look like pin pricks in the skin. If untreated, these gradually get bigger and begin to look like fresh bruises. These bruises then join together to form larger areas of purple skin damage and discoloration.
Septicemia develops very quickly. The patient rapidly becomes very ill, and may:
- lose interest in food and surroundings.
- become feverish.
- feel cold, with cool hands and feet.
- experience a coma and, sometimes, death.
- become lethargic, anxious, or agitated
NOTE Septicemia is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. In most cases, treatment will involve antibiotic medication. Call a medical professional if you believe you or a loved one has any of these common symptoms.
Septicemia from Medical or Nursing Home Neglect ? Talk to a Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been the victim of neglect or abuse by a Nursing Home resulting in severe pressure sores, bedsores, septicema, gangrene, sexual assault, rape, infections or their wrongful death, then call and speak to an attorney about your legal rights to a Nursing Home Negligence or Malpractice Lawsuit.
