What is septicemia? You will receive the answer to this difficult medical question from the materials in this article. We will also tell you what symptoms the disease has and how it should be treated.
basic information
Septicemia is a medical term for blood poisoning. As a rule, such a disease arises from the entry of pathogens into the systemic circulation. In this case, the spread of microbes can begin from absolutely any source of inflammation (for example, infectious lesions of tissues or organs, wounds on the skin, etc.).
Features of the disease
Septicemia is a blood disease that is most likely to affect young children. What is the reason for this? The fact is that the child’s immune system is at the stage of formation, so infection from its organs can quite easily enter the bloodstream.
How is septicemia manifested? Symptoms of this disease will be listed below. It should be noted that with septicemia the patient is worried not only by high body temperature and fever, but also respiratory failure, delirium and tachycardia. Such a disease is characterized by rapid development. In this regard, it is extremely important to recognize it in time and conduct adequate therapy.
Causes of occurrence
Septicemia is a blood disease that occurs, as we have said, due to pathogenic microbes. In most cases, they are ordinary bacteria, but viruses, fungi, and other opportunistic microorganisms can also cause the disease in question .
As a rule, microbes penetrate the human body through open wounds on the body, mouth and various foci of inflammation (for example, with otitis media, sinusitis, inflammation of the kidneys). Most often, the patient's immune system copes with such pathogenic microorganisms. But in the event that a large number of bacteria immediately enter the bloodstream (for example, with advanced stages of otitis media, sinusitis, cystitis, etc.), then the immune system is not able to withstand them, as a result of which infection begins with all the ensuing consequences.
Very often, septicemia, the symptoms and treatment of which are presented below, is a serious complication of infectious diseases. It should also be noted that along with microbes, the products of their vital activity enter the bloodstream, that is, poisonous substances that cause toxic shock, damage to organs and tissues, as well as malfunctioning of various systems. As a result of this, the disease in question can quite easily provoke a fatal outcome.
Septicemia: symptoms in adults
As mentioned above, the disease in question is characterized by rather rapid development. That is why recognition of the first symptoms of the disease will help the doctor begin timely treatment and save the patient's life.
The onset of such a disease is characterized by the usual symptoms of a cold (fever, general weakness, chills, refusal to eat). Then they join vomiting and diarrhea, characteristic of intestinal infection. The patient also appears tachycardia and rapid breathing.
Other symptoms
The condition of a person with septicemia worsens quite quickly. Toxins that enter the systemic circulation damage the blood vessels, which leads to subcutaneous hemorrhage, which manifests itself in the form of rashes.
At the very beginning of the disease, the rash looks like small dots. After that, they are converted into large blue areas.
With severe intoxication, the patient has delusional conditions, as well as loss of consciousness.
It should be specially noted that the symptoms of this disease can vary significantly, depending on the causes of its occurrence. For example, bacterial septicemia is a form of blood poisoning that is characterized by the appearance of ulcers on the heart valves. Also, staphylococci and enterococci can become the cause of the development of this disease. In this case, internal organs and systems are affected (spleen enlarges, vessels, kidneys, joints, etc. suffer).
Characteristic signs of such a disease are hemorrhages under the skin and in the lower eyelid, as well as necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue, the appearance of nodules on the palms of the hands, thickening of the phalanges of the fingers, etc.
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis of such a disease is established by the typical symptoms of blood poisoning. Also, the presence of this disease is confirmed by laboratory tests.
To identify the causative agent of septicemia, the patient is prescribed blood culture. In this case, the analysis must be done several times in a row. This is due to the fact that microorganisms have a certain life cycle, and the therapy can significantly change their number in the blood and bloodstream. When determining the type of bacteria, an analysis is also carried out on their susceptibility to various antibiotics.
It should be noted that the standard procedure for such a disease is a biochemical and general analysis of blood and urine. An ultrasound of the chest, abdominal cavity and so on can also be prescribed.
Septicemia: treatment
The treatment of the disease in question should take place only in stationary conditions, and more precisely in the intensive care unit or intensive care unit.
The treatment regimen is based on the same principles as the treatment of infectious diseases. However, when choosing medicines, specialists must take into account the patient’s condition, as well as a high risk of death.
As a rule, with septicemia, doctors use antibiotics, as well as drugs to reduce intoxication and increase immunity. If required, the patient is prescribed drugs that are able to correct disturbed processes in the body.
Therapy Features
With septicemia, the patient needs complete rest and diet. An important point in the treatment of this disease is the cleansing of the focus of infection. For this purpose, antibiotics of different groups are used. Sometimes the patient is additionally prescribed hormone therapy.
With severe intoxication, gamma globulin, glucose solution, and plasma are administered intravenously to the patient. If ulcers (secondary) are identified, urgent surgical treatment is performed. They are opened and cleaned. Purulent wounds are also washed, and the affected areas are excised.