Blood Poisoning: Symptoms and Treatment..تسمم الدم اسبابه وعلاجه USA-ES

تسمم الدم اسبابه وعلاجه Blood Poisoning: Symptoms and Treatment What is blood poisoning? Blood poisoning is a serious infection. It occurs when bacteria are in the bloodstream. Despite its name, the infection has nothing to do with poison. Although not a medical term, “blood poisoning” is used to describe bacteremia, septicemia, or sepsis. Still, the name sounds dangerous, and for good reason. Sepsis is a serious, potentially fatal infection. Blood poisoning can progress to sepsis rapidly. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for treating blood poisoning, but understanding your risk factors is the first step in preventing the condition. What causes blood poisoning? Blood poisoning occurs when bacteria causing infection in another part of your body enter your bloodstream. The presence of bacteria in the blood is referred to as bacteremia or septicemia. The terms “septicemia” and “sepsis” are often used interchangeably, though technically they aren’t quite the same. Septicemia, the state of having bacteria in your blood, can lead to sepsis. Sepsis is a severe and often life-threatening state of infection if it’s left untreated. But any type of infection — whether bacterial, fungal, or viral — can cause sepsis. And these infectious agents don’t necessarily need to be in a person’s bloodstream to bring about sepsis. Such infections most commonly occur in the lungs, abdomen, and urinary tract. Sepsis happens more often in people who are hospitalized, where the risk of infection is already higher. Because blood poisoning occurs when bacteria enter your bloodstream in conjunction with another infection, you won’t develop sepsis without having an infection first. Some common causes of infections that can cause sepsis include: • abdominal infection. • an infected insect bite. • central line infection, such as from a dialysis catheter or chemotherapy catheter. • dental extractions or infected teeth. • exposure of a covered wound to bacteria during surgical recovery, or not changing a surgical bandage frequently enough. • exposure of any open wound to the environment. • infection by drug-resistant bacteria. • kidney or urinary tract infection. • pneumonia. • skin infection. Who is at risk for blood poisoning. Some people are more susceptible than others to sepsis. Those who are more at risk include: • people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, AIDS, or leukemia. • young children. • older adults. • people who use intravenous drugs such as heroin. • people with poor dental hygiene. • those using a catheter. • people who’ve had recent surgery or dental work. • those working in an environment with great exposure to bacteria or viruses, such as in a hospital or outdoors. Recognizing the symptoms of blood poisoning. The symptoms of blood poisoning include: • chills. • moderate or high fever. • weakness. • rapid breathing. • increased heart rate or palpitations. • paleness of the skin, especially in the face. Some of these symptoms are associated with the flu or other illnesses. However, if you’ve had surgery recently or you’re recovering from a wound, it’s important that you call your doctor immediately after experiencing these possible signs of blood poisoning. Advanced symptoms of blood poisoning may be life-threatening and include: • confusion. • red spots on the skin that may grow larger and look like a big, purple bruise. • shock. • little to no urine production. • organ failure. Blood poisoning can lead to respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock. If the condition isn’t treated right away, these complications can lead to death. Diagnosing blood poisoning. It’s difficult to self-diagnose blood poisoning because its symptoms mimic those of other conditions. The best way to determine if you have septicemia is to see a doctor. First, your doctor will perform a physical exam, which will include checking your temperature and blood pressure. If blood poisoning is suspected, your doctor will run tests to look for signs of bacterial infection. Septicemia can be inferred with these tests: • blood culture testing. • blood oxygen levels. • blood count. • clotting factor. • urine tests including urine culture. • chest X-ray. • electrolyte and kidney function tests. Also, your doctor might see problems with liver or kidney function, as well as imbalances in electrolyte levels. If you have a skin wound, your doctor may take a sample of any fluids leaking from it to check for bacteria. As a precaution, your doctor may also order an imaging scan. These tests can all help detect infection in your body’s organs: • X-ray. • CT scan. • MRI scan. • ultrasound. If bacteria are present, identifying what type they are will help your doctor determine which antibiotic to prescribe to clear the infection. Treatment options for blood poisoning.

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