Sepsis history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [2]

Synonyms and keywords: sepsis syndrome; septic shock; septicemia

## Overview

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Symptoms of sepsis are often related to the underlying infectious process. When the infection crosses into the bloodstream the resulting symptoms of sepsis occur fever, chills, and rigors, confusion, anxiety, difficulty breathing, fatigue and malaise, nausea and vomiting.[1][2][3]

## History and Symptoms

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Symptoms of sepsis are often related to the underlying infectious process. When the infection crosses into the bloodstream the resulting symptoms of sepsis occur:[1][2][3]

* Fever
* A capillary leak syndrome can develop with severe swelling, edema, and third spacing of fluids.
* General symptoms can include flu like symptoms as well as shaking chills or rigors.
* If the respiratory system is the primary source for sepsis then sore throat, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain may be present.

Symptoms due to the focal involvement of organs by the bacteria can give clues to the etiology of sepsis. Such symptoms include the following:

Organ system  | Symptoms

|

Head and Neck  |

* Headache
* Neck stiffness
* Altered mental status
* Earache
* Sore throat
* Sinus pain or tenderness
* Cervical or submandibular lymphadenopathy

Pulmonary  |

* Productive cough
* Pleuritic chest pain
* Dyspnea
* Dullness on percussion
* Bronchial breath sounds with localized rales or any evidence of consolidation

Cardiac  |

* Onset of new murmur
* H/O of IV drug use

Abdominal and gastrointestinal  |

* Diarrhea
* Abdominal pain and distention
* Guarding or rebound tenderness
* Rectal tenderness or swelling

Pelvic and genitourinary  |

* Flank pain
* Adnexal tenderness or masses
* Vaginal or urethral discharge
* Dysuria, frequency, and urgency

Musculoskeletal  |

* Localized limb pain or tenderness
* Focal erythema, edema
* Swollen joint crepitus in necrotizing infections
* Joint effusions

Skin  |

* Petechiae
* Purpura
* Erythema, ulceration, bullous formation, and fluctuance

## References

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lever A, Mackenzie I (2007). "Sepsis: definition, epidemiology, and diagnosis". BMJ. 335 (7625): 879–83. doi:10.1136/bmj.39346.495880.AE. PMC 2043413. PMID 17962288.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Juneja, Deven (2012). "Severe sepsis and septic shock in the elderly: An overview". World Journal of Critical Care Medicine. 1 (1): 23. doi:10.5492/wjccm.v1.i1.23. ISSN 2220-3141.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Karnatovskaia LV, Festic E (2012). "Sepsis: a review for the neurohospitalist". Neurohospitalist. 2 (4): 144–53. doi:10.1177/1941874412453338. PMC 3726110. PMID 23983879.

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