Most people will experience an infection during their lifetime — and probably several. In some cases, infections will clear on their own, thanks to your body’s immune function. Other infections may require topical, oral, or IV antibiotic treatments.
Unfortunately, there are times when the human body overreacts to an infection, leading to a life-threatening condition called sepsis. An estimated 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis each year, and roughly 20% either succumb to the condition or are moved into hospice care.
What are the stages of sepsis, and what symptoms occur during each stage? What can you do if the onset of sepsis was due to medical malpractice like negligence or a misdiagnosis?
The Stages of Sepsis
Sepsis is caused by an excessive immune response to an infection, starting with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), characterized by severe inflammation throughout the body. There are three separate stages sepsis can progress through, including sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. What are the symptoms of each stage?
1. Sepsis
The beginning stages of sepsis can be hard for the average person to identify, as they may align with a typical immune response to infection.
Symptoms of the first stage of sepsis could include:
- Fever or low body temperature
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid respiration
- High/low white blood cell count
These are also common symptoms of SIRS, but the presence of infection places the condition in the category of sepsis.
2. Severe Sepsis
The progression to severe sepsis occurs when the inflammatory response starts to impact internal organs, leading to acute dysfunction. This is characterized by a combination of low blood pressure (hypotension) and decreased blood flow through an organ (hypoperfusion).
This could present as a variety of symptoms, including:
- Decreased urine output
- Abdominal pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Heart arrhythmia
- Decreased blood platelet count
- Changes in mental state
After a patient has been diagnosed with sepsis, monitoring of urine output can offer the earliest sign of progression to severe sepsis.
3. Septic Shock
The final and most concerning stage of sepsis is septic shock. It is primarily characterized by dangerously low blood pressure, despite administering fluids to stabilize the body (fluid resuscitation), damage to small blood vessels that causes leakage into surrounding tissue, and perfusion abnormalities, impacting the needed supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to organs.
Mortality rates for patients who progress to septic shock are estimated at 30-50%.
In addition to monitoring and administering fluids, treatment for sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock may include antibiotics, medication to increase blood flow, oxygen therapy, and, in some cases, surgical intervention.
While many patients recover, death becomes more likely when sepsis progresses to septic shock. A failure on the part of medical professionals could constitute wrongful death.
Medical Malpractice and Sepsis
Although the onset of sepsis often occurs before patients reach the hospital, as much as a third of patients who seek treatment for sepsis report a healthcare visit in the week leading up to hospitalization.
Whether you were misdiagnosed, suffered a delayed diagnosis, or were otherwise subject to medical neglect or failure to follow procedure, your condition may be the fault of a medical professional.
If this is the case, you have options. A qualified attorney can guide you through the process of seeking compensation to cover medical bills, non-economic damages like pain and suffering, and more. While you focus on your recovery, an experienced lawyer can work toward a fair settlement or court award on your behalf.
Contact the Chicago Medical Malpractice Law Firm of Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for Help Today
For more information, please contact the experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today. We offer free consultations.
We proudly serve Cook County, Will County, Kendall County, and its surrounding areas:
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
10 S La Salle St STE 1230, Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 726-1616
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Joliet Office
195 Springfield Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
(815) 726-1616
