From clammy hands to diarrhoea – the 3 surprising symptoms of sepsis you need to know

SEPSIS can be very difficult to recognize.

From sweaty hands to a rash to diarrhea, sepsis can manifest itself in a variety of ways.

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This is because the condition can affect many different areas of the body and therefore there can be many different possible symptoms.

Sepsis occurs when the body attacks itself in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or pneumonia.

It can cause tissue damage, organ failure and death.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a third of people worldwide who develop sepsis die.

And many who survive have life-altering effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and fatigue, organ dysfunction (organs not functioning properly), and amputations.

Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

On World Sepsis Day (September 13), we look at the surprising symptoms of the disease you need to know.

1. Diarrhea

Some serious gastrointestinal illnesses can trigger sepsis.

It happens when the C. difficile Bacteria that cause intestinal infections travel from the intestines into the bloodstream, explains the Sepsis Alliance.

A common symptom of this is moderate to severe diarrhea along with a high temperature and feeling unwell.

This type of illness is usually treated with antibiotics, which are known to kill the bacteria.

Most people get a Clostridium difficile infection for another reason while taking antibiotics. You can also catch it from other people.

2. Confusion

Studies suggest that up to a third of people who develop sepsis experience neurological problems such as confusion or even anger.

Experts don’t know the exact reason why the condition affects the brain in this way in some people, but it is thought to be the result of inflammation.

3. Damp skin

Moist skin, such as B. sweaty hands is a common symptom of sepsis.

According to the NHS, skin can become cold and clammy when body temperature rises due to hot weather, exercise or a fever.

When the body goes into septic shock, it suffers from fever.

This causes your sympathetic nervous system (your “fight or flight” response) to send a signal to your body to produce sweat.

Other symptoms of septic shock include:

• Fast heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Fever
• shortness of breath
• Extreme muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rash (collection of tiny blood spots)

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms you should call 999.

A person’s chances of survival from sepsis depend heavily on receiving intensive medical treatment as quickly as possible.

The longer medical care takes, the more likely a patient is to die.

This is especially important for newborns, the elderly and pregnant women, and people with long-term health problems (such as diabetes or kidney failure).

People with weakened immune systems (such as people with HIV or AIDS or people receiving chemotherapy) are also at risk.

Luckily, once you get medical help, treatments are available to you.

These include oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, medications, antibiotics and surgery.