If you thought 'The Simpsons' was the funniest thing on TV, wait till you read this hilarious article about whether or not a viral infection can lead to sepsis.
Introduction: The Epic Battle between Immune System and Viruses
We all know that our immune system is constantly battling against viruses, bacteria and other undesirables lurking around us. But what happens when it loses the battle? Can something as trivial as an average runny nose end up with someone being hospitalized?
What is Sepsis?
To give you some background, sepsis is the body's response to an infection which has gotten out of control such that it starts attacking its own organs and tissues. A person may feel feverish or cold, be confused or disoriented (Yeah right! We all spend so much time understanding things!). Worst case scenario? Someone could die from it.
So does a virus always lead to sepsis then?
No!
- Firstly, not everyone who contracts a virus will end up getting infected badly enough for their life to be in danger.
- Secondly (and luckily), only certain viruses are known to trigger particularly knotty and fatal types of infections requiring medical intervention.
Are name-droping any here? Nope - we'll leave them where they belong ('Have I got news for You')!
So when do these nasty complications happen?
When one comes across an individual carrying health problems predisposing him/her towards weakened immunity like chronic diabetes(stay safe!),kidney/liver failure (it can't get worse than this) , malnutrition(don't forget eating my dear friend), cancer(tough times indeed!) etc.
Bottomline : These peoples are at risk for developing more serious forms of illness upon catching even common cold/cough kind-of-infections!
Viral, bacterial or fungal - one affects us all!
Remember that any pathogen (virus, bacteria or fungus) can lead to sepsis if things go south.
Viral Infections and Sepsis
But we get it – you're here because you want to know whether viruses in particular can cause severe infections leading up to sepsis.
So the answer in a nutshell is yes!
Once 'bad-guy' enters our system, it hijacks our cells machinery(poor cells!) for its own replication ,causing inflammation (so let's blame them) throughout the body.
The immune system then kicks into overdrive : sends dedicated cells with virus destroying capabilities ('anti-viral-defense-squad') faster than a superhero swinging through a city skyline. Usually this puts an end to the infection within days(fingers crossed).
Yet there are occasions where just like my little nephew lost his energy during 3 hour cricket play(we aren't saying don't play), extended battles may be tougher (yes!).
Even once the anti-viral defense squad has wiped out most of these viral intruders; some continuous low-level infection may stick around(who invited them?) creating further problems down the line. One classic example? The flu which can often persist beyond causing typical symptoms(lethargy-huh!).
A problem arises especially when another disease-causing agent gains entry along with them from outside(can they just not learn!)
This works as follows: aside from suppressing immunity(feeling weak?) viruses create wounds in your respiratory tract(enough for chill...) allowing various microorganisms (bacteria/fungi/yeasts/mushrooms) entering your bloodstream instead directly via even minor skin abrasions(careful-steer clear anyone...). As soon as foreign bodies enter bloodstream,body creates seismic reactions known collectively as Sepsis ,in an effort to kill off all the 'invaders'.
As per medical literature, "viral infections are particularly notorious at causing secondary bacterial/superinfections which can often prove fatal in patients with weakened immunity"(yaik-sounds like hand grenades-twice!)
Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis
The signs and symptoms of sepsis resemble those of a severe flu or infection. They may include:
- High fever or low body temperature
- Rapid breathing (no don’t gasp)
- Paleness/spotting/blueish discoloration anywhere visible(all your favorite colors?)
- Erratic Heart beat/Irregular pulse( gotta love them beats!) And so on... Basically a series emergencies arguing with each other over who drove last weekend.
In conclusion, when it comes to whether viruses cause sepsis, the answer is unfortunately yes. The good news is that if you're healthy(hope always), then getting sick isn't likely to be any more than an inconvenience rather than something life-threatening.
Anyways take care: Wash your hands frequently, avoid direct contact with known carriers of bad stuffs around ya , get sufficient sleep - let's make our bodies fully loaded(.net framework) ready for any invisible outsiders planning their next move!