Septic shock is an emergency condition caused by sepsis, which is inflammation throughout the body due to infection. Septic shock is characterized by circulatory failure due to ongoing infection.
Septic shock requires prompt and appropriate medical attention. Therefore, you should know the early symptoms of septic shock and the options for medical help for this condition.
Recognize the Symptoms of Septic Shock
Shock is a condition of impaired circulation function to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the tissues in the body. One type is septic shock. In septic shock, this circulatory disturbance is caused by inflammation throughout the body as a complication of sepsis.
Some of the symptoms of septic shock that you need to know include:
- Hypotension (low blood pressure) that is not corrected with fluids
- Increased respiratory rate (tachypnea)
- Restlessness and loss of consciousness
- High fever (body temperature >38OC)
- Increased pulse (tachycardia)
- Shivering
- Headache
- Cyanosis
- Severe muscle pain
- Decreased frequency and amount of urination
Several types of infections that cause sepsis and are at risk of causing septic shock are infections of the respiratory tract and lungs, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, and reproductive tract infections.
P effortseptic shock help
If not treated quickly and appropriately, septic shock can be fatal. Patients who have symptoms and signs of septic shock need to get close supervision from the medical team.
To treat septic shock, the treatment that will be given by the doctor includes:
1. Giving oxygen and breathing apparatus
When experiencing septic shock, the doctor will provide additional oxygen using a breathing apparatus, such as a nasal cannula or endotracheal intubation, so that the body's tissues are not deprived of oxygen.
2. Giving fluids
To restore the disturbed volume of body fluids during septic shock, the patient will be given intravenous fluids. The choice of the type of fluid and the amount of fluid will be adjusted to the patient's condition and the doctor's considerations.
3. Give blood pressure-boosting drugs
In septic shock, hypotension usually does not improve with intravenous fluids alone, so the doctor may also prescribe medications to increase blood pressure, such as vasopressin.
4. Give antibiotics
In septic shock, antibiotics are needed to treat the bacterial infection that causes it. The type of antibiotic given will be adjusted to the type of bacteria that infects the body.
In addition, the doctor can provide other treatments according to the patient's condition, such as dialysis (dialysis therapy) in case of kidney failure, surgery if there is an infection site that needs surgery, as well as administering drugs to control blood sugar and to relieve symptoms.
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition. You need to know the symptoms of septic shock so that it is not too late to get treatment from a doctor.