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September is <\/em><\/em>Sepsis Awareness Month<\/em><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n Many people first hear about sepsis when someone they know is diagnosed with it or it\u2019s mentioned on a medical TV drama. But hearing the word and knowing what it means are two different things.<\/p>\n Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency and requires immediate care. Although more than 1.7 million people in the U.S. develop sepsis each year, and 350,000 people die from it, most people don\u2019t know about all the symptoms or risk factors of sepsis.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a primer on what sepsis is, what causes it, and why early identification and treatment matter. <\/p>\n What is sepsis?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Many people believe that sepsis is an infection and while that\u2019s not correct, the confusion is understandable: You can\u2019t have sepsis without an infection.<\/p>\n Think of a bee sting allergy. If a bee stings you, it hurts, but for most people, that\u2019s the worst of it. But if you\u2019re allergic to bees, your immune system overreacts, causing an allergic reaction \u2014 a whole-body (systemic) response \u2014 that can lead to anaphylactic shock and death. No bee sting means no allergic reaction. Similarly, no infection means no sepsis.<\/p>\n An infection can start off small, like in a bug bite or scrape, or in your body, like a urinary tract infection (UTI) or pneumonia. Antibiotics usually clear up bacterial infections. With viral infections like influenza, the virus goes away with time. But, for some people, their immune system goes into overdrive, causing a systemic response called sepsis, which can lead to septic shock. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Who gets sepsis?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Anyone can develop sepsis but some groups of people are at higher risk:<\/p>\n Many people believe sepsis is something that starts in a hospital. In reality, most sepsis cases develop outside the hospital \u2014 when someone is at home, at work or at school. And that makes sense. People develop infections all the time. They cut their finger gardening, scrape their knee playing sports, develop a UTI or catch one of the many viruses that are going around. <\/p>\n While any type of infection can cause sepsis, no matter how minor it seems, some infections are more likely to cause sepsis than others. Three common sources are:<\/p>\n Sepsis symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n While any kind of infection can cause sepsis, the reality is that most infections do not. Two people might get the flu at the same time. One might get sepsis while the other recovers quickly.<\/p>\n Researchers don\u2019t know why some people get sepsis and others don\u2019t. And to make things more frustrating, sepsis can be hard to detect. There\u2019s no single test for sepsis, and the signs can be vague. Instead, we have to put together puzzle pieces. <\/p>\n To remember the most common signs and symptoms, think TIME<\/strong>:<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to seek emergency help immediately if you think you have sepsis. But don\u2019t drive yourself to the hospital \u2014 your situation could change quickly and drastically while on the road. Call 911 and let them know you suspect sepsis.<\/p>\n Read: The Christmas That Almost Wasn\u2019t, After I Survived Septic Shock >><\/em><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Pregnancy and sepsis<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Maternal sepsis, sepsis that occurs from an infection during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum, is a serious concern. It can be harder to detect sepsis in pregnancy and after giving birth. For example, when someone is pregnant, their heart rate is naturally faster. And they pee more often, which can be a sign of a UTI.<\/p>\n Risk factors that can increase the chance for sepsis during this time include:<\/p>\n Aside from infections that can affect anyone, infections during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum could be caused by:<\/p>\n Given this information, it\u2019s important that if you feel something is wrong, get help. Tell your clinician that you\u2019re worried and why. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Can sepsis be prevented?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n The only way to prevent sepsis is to prevent infections. If you have an infection, the earlier the treatment, the better.<\/p>\n Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from developing sepsis:<\/p>\n\n\n
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