The symptoms of septicemia arise when there is an infection in some part of the body, such as the lungs or urinary tract, for example, which is not treated properly, which favors the spread of the microorganism through the bloodstream and results in symptoms such as fever, nausea, tiredness excessive pain in the chest and increased heart rate, for example.
Septicemia corresponds to an infection in the blood that can happen during hospitalization, as a result of the environment or medical procedures, or due to the failure to treat a previous infection. Septicemia is diagnosed mainly through laboratory tests and treatment is done using antibiotics, which are recommended by the doctor according to the type of infection and the person's general health.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of septicemia arise when an infection is not treated properly, with the microorganism spreading through the bloodstream and reaching other organs. The initial signs of septicemia are:
- Fever above 38ºC; Chills and constant tremors; Nausea and vomiting; Excessive weakness and tiredness; Increased heartbeat above 90 beats per minute; Rapid and shallow breathing, greater than 20 cycles per minute.
Since septicemia is a serious problem that develops very quickly, it is important to go immediately to the emergency room or call an ambulance, calling 192, whenever septicemia is suspected.
These symptoms can appear at home when you have pneumonia or urinary tract infection, for example, but they can also develop during a hospital stay, especially in people with weakened immune systems, such as babies, the elderly and HIV patients, for example.
How to identify septicemia
The initial diagnosis of septicemia can be complicated, so it is important to note all symptoms. The doctor can order a blood culture, which corresponds to a laboratory test that allows the identification of microorganisms present in the blood and that is usually done during hospitalization.
In addition, it is possible that the doctor requests the blood count, which is usually altered in septicemia, and other laboratory tests that allow the main focus of the infection to be identified, such as urine test, culture of respiratory secretions or wound.
If there are no obvious results of infection, the doctor may also order an X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan, for example, to assess which organs may be affected and identify the initial focus of the infection.
