How to Spot Symptoms of Sepsis

Sepsis occurs when your body is fighting an infection. You get a fever, your heart beats faster, and you breathe rapidly. This is common and is not usually life-threatening. Sepsis can turn serious, however. Severe sepsis happens when your body's natural immune system's response to infection suddenly kicks into overdrive. The elderly, young, and anyone with a weakened immune system is most at risk. Here's how to spot symptoms of sepsis.

Things You'll Need

• Thermometer

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Instructions

• 1

  Pay attention to your body. Are you fighting an infection? Were you recently exposed to an illness? Sepsis arises out of an infection somewhere in your body. Even something as simple as a common cold can give rise to severe sepsis, although the cause is usually a bacterial infection and not a viral one.

• 2

  Think about your recent history. Were you recently in the hospital, or had an IV? An infection can occur in response to bacteria entering your body during surgery or through IV tubes.

• 3

  Take note of your symptoms. Do you have a slight fever, or alternately, a low body temperature? Do you have a fast heart rate, or rapid breathing? This could signify the start of sepsis.

• 4

  Monitor your symptoms carefully. Is your fever getting worse? Are you confused, dizzy or groggy? Do you have diarrhea, a skin rash or bleeding? These are all symptoms of severe sepsis or even sepsis shock, and you should see a doctor immediately.