Every minute counts in sepsis

This year, it’s been 10 years since September 13 began to be celebrated as World Sepsis Day.

But after all, what is sepsis and why is it so important that it deserves its own campaign day on the calendar?

Sepsis is a form of excessive inflammation in our body when it is trying to fight off serious infections, such as pneumonia or an infected skin wound.

When sepsis begins, death can occur because the body cannot, even with this response, contain the infection or, alternatively, because the fight against infection is so intense and uncontrolled that it leads to excessive deregulation of organ function.

Sepsis can develop very quickly, and we know that up to 80% of the time, episodes start outside the hospital.

Moreover, as you can imagine, when there is a case of sepsis, the risk of death is very high if it is not recognized in time and treated well. It is estimated that 1 in 5 deaths worldwide is due to sepsis, equivalent to 11 million deaths annually.

Thus, World Sepsis Day aims to raise awareness of the main symptoms of sepsis, so that everyone knows when to seek emergency medical help, as well as draw attention to ways to prevent the development of a dangerous infection that progresses to sepsis.

Every minute counts in sepsis. Treatment includes taking medications to help our members deal with the infection and starting antibiotics quickly to control the infection.

How do you recognize someone who might have sepsis? Symptoms are not specific and can happen to people of any age (even young children or pregnant women). Therefore, if you or someone you know has any of these complaints, you should immediately contact Said 24 (tel 808 24 24 24) To help you decide what to do:

• sfeeling confused, jitters and/or slurred speech, which are very low (or much lower than usual);
• And theextreme temperatures (feeling too cold or hot), chills, muscle aches and fever;
• sbake all day without urinating;
• sFeeling of impending doom.
• Iair insufficiency – a feeling that there is not enough air, that you cannot take a deep breath or that you are breathing too fast;
• sFeeling of wet skin or very pale skin.

Sepsis can be prevented by any of us and can help not only us, but also those closest to us. I would like to leave the following advice:

• You should always wash your hands before cooking and eating and after going to the bathroom;
• If you have chronic skin wounds, you should ask your family doctor and nurse for advice on how to take care of wound washing and hygiene;
• If you belong to a high-risk group (you are over 65 years old; you have a chronic disease such as diabetes, heart, lung, or kidney disease; you have a disease or you take medications that reduce the body’s defenses), you should have a flu shot every year and you should Check with your doctor to see if other vaccines are right for you.

Remember, in case of sepsis, every minute counts. Help us diagnose and treat this dangerous infection in time and possibly save lives.