Infections of any type could cause serious complications to your health. However, some issues could pose greater risks than others, and some infections could even have the potential to pose life-threatening or fatal harm. Luckily, many infections can be treated effectively with the proper medication when caught in enough time. Of course, you may fear that doctors or other medical staff may miss out on symptoms that could point to a serious issue.
When it comes to potentially life-threatening infections like sepsis, you certainly want the problem treated right away. However, if medical professionals overlook signs that you have developed this blood infection, you could miss out on life-saving treatment.
Sepsis symptoms
The first stage of this infection is sepsis, which could happen due to various factors. You may even already be in the hospital due to having undergone a procedure, and sepsis could have set in as a result of that procedure. On the other hand, you may have suffered a serious cut and developed the infection as a result. No matter how sepsis comes about, it can prove detrimental, and therefore, you and your physician should look out for symptoms, such as:
- Fever reaching over 101 degrees Fahrenheit or dropping below 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit
- Heart rate over 90 beats per minute
- Breathing rate over 20 breaths per minute
- Likely presence of infection
In order for a sepsis diagnosis to come about, you must exhibit at least two of these symptoms.
Severe sepsis
The next stage of the infection, severe sepsis, involves organ failure. Signs and symptoms associated with this stage include:
- Discoloration of the skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Weakness
- Mental changes
- Heart issues
This list does not include all potential symptoms of severe sepsis, and you only need to exhibit one of these or other associated signs for a doctor to diagnose severe sepsis.
Septic shock
Septic shock comes in as the third stage of sepsis, and indicators of this stage include symptoms associated with severe sepsis as well as very low blood pressure.
Treatment
Luckily, if caught quickly and considered a mild case, you have a substantial rate of recovery. Of course, if a doctor fails to diagnose this condition, you could get worse and suffer serious negative impacts. If you have been negatively affected or have lost a loved one because of lack of proper treatment due to medical negligence, you may wish to consider your legal options for filing a medical malpractice claim in Albuquerque.
