Severe sepsis occurs when there’s an organ failure. There must be one or more of the following signs to be diagnosed with severe sepsis:

  • Abnormal heart function
  • Breathing issues
  • Changes in mental ability
  • Chills due to low body temperature
  • Extreme Pain and discomfort
  • Decreased urination
  • Extreme weakness and Fatigue
  • Patches of discolored skin
  • Fever
  • Low platelets count
  • Unconsciousness

Septic shock

Septic shock is a severe and potentially fatal condition that occurs when sepsis leads to life-threatening low blood pressure. The body usually responds to an infection by releasing inflammatory substances into the bloodstream. These regulate the immune system to fight the infection. When the body loses control of this response, it triggers damaging changes to the organs. As a result, they can become dysfunctional or even stop working entirely. If a patient with sepsis has low blood pressure that does not improve with fluid treatment, this means that their body has gone into septic shock. Having a case of severe sepsis increases the risk of a future infections. Severe sepsis or septic shock can also cause complications, such as small blood clots can form throughout the patients body. These clots block the flow of blood and oxygen to vital organs and other parts of the body. This increases the risk of organ failure and tissue death.

Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis

  • Fever 
  • Shivering or feeling very cold
  • Heart rate higher than 90 beats per minute
  • Low blood pressure
  • Shortness of breath
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Clammy sweaty skin
  • Extreme pain or discomfort
  • Probable or confirmed infection

Causes of Sepsis

Any type of infection can cause sepsis, weather bacterial, viral or fungal. Following are some of the common causes of sepsis:

  • Pneumonia
  • Infection of the digestive system, stomach, colon etc.
  • Infection of the kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system
  • Bloodstream infection (bacteremia)