Common Symptoms
There are strong indications that a person has sepsis hovering on these three major symptoms:
- Mental problems, such as delirium and confusion.
- Low blood pressure (hypotension), often below 95 mm Hg systolic blood pressure.
- Rapid rate of respiration, usually greater than 21 breaths per minute.
Showing any two of the above symptoms is an almost effective pointer to sepsis nowadays.
Aside from the above listed, other common symptoms experienced by septic patients include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
- Reduced body temperature, even hypothermia.
- Fever and chills
- Discolored or blotched skin in certain areas.
- Reduced urine production, or dysuria.
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating profusely, with clammy skin
- Septic shock.
Sepsis gradually proceeds to shock, which is more likely to cause death. At this point, widespread changes in the circulation and within the cells make it difficult to maintain a normal environment inside the body. [4]