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Signs and symptoms of sepsis

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body’s dysregulated response to an infection. Signs and symptoms can include fever or abnormally low body temperature, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, confusion, and swelling (edema). Symptoms may also reflect the underlying infection (for example, cough with pneumonia or painful urination with a kidney infection). In very young, elderly, or immunocompromised people, fever may be absent and symptoms may be less specific. Early sepsis may present with tachycardia, decreased urination, and high blood sugar. As sepsis becomes established or severe, it can lead to organ dysfunction and reduced blood flow, with features such as low blood pressure, high lactate, low urine output, metabolic acidosis (often with compensatory faster breathing), and abnormalities in blood clotting that can progress to organ failure. Lightheadedness can occur due to falling blood pressure, and septic shock is characterized by persistent low blood pressure due to sepsis that does not improve after fluid replacement or that requires medications to raise blood pressure.

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Sepsis: From Recognition to Management

Signs and symptoms of sepsis

Sepsis causes and infectious organisms