What is septicemia ?
Septicemia (sometimes referred to as septicaemia) is a serious condition that requires medical treatment quickly. It is an infection – usually bacterial – that enters the bloodstream. In other words, septicemia is blood poisoning. Septicemia can cause whole body inflammation, among other symptoms, and knowing how to spot these symptoms, understanding what causes septicemia, and how it is diagnosed and treated is the first step to protecting yourself and your loved ones from this dangerous condition. You can find that information right here in our many articles.
The following are a few things to bear in mind that can help you to stay safe. The symptoms of septicemia are many and varied. A more full account of symptoms can be found in our Symptoms and Causes of Septicemia article, but in general the patient can suffer from abdominal pain, fever, hypotension, vomiting, shivering and an increased rate of breathing. However, in all these cases, there will usually be an infection of some kind that may be apparent. An infected wound, burn or similar may be visible, or the patient may be suffering from some kind of bacterial infection already and their symptoms rapidly get worse. Whatever the case, if you suspect septicemia, you should get to the hospital immediately.
Septicemia can be fatal. In fact, of those who progress to the septic shock stage, only half will survive. Although the articles here can help you to spot the signs of septicemia when they occur, it is absolutely vital that you seek medical advice immediately if you suspect a case of blood poisoning. Septicemia is a very serious condition and needs treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) promptly in order for the patient to recover. The patient will often be treated with intravenous antibiotics and other drugs to help maintain blood pressure, and the body will need help maintaining the function of vital organs during this time.
One of the main causes of septicemia is cuts that become infected. Left untreated, the bacteria from the infection can enter the blood stream. Another common cause of septicemia is infections in the mouth or gums and infected burns. Keeping wounds dressed properly and sterilized is the best way to avoid the infections that can lead to septicemia. It is extremely important to treat infections that do occur with the correct antibiotics as soon as they appear in order to prevent the infection from entering the blood and causing septicemia.
We hope that you find the information contained on this site a great help in understanding septicemia but remember; there is no substitute for proper medical advice. As mentioned previously, septicemia can be fatal, and while there may be things you can do to ease the symptoms of someone suffering from blood poisoning, it will take serious medical attention to cure the condition. Therefore it is absolutely essential that you take the proper precautions to avoid septicemia, and if it happens, be prepared for it and seek medical help as quickly as possible.