Sepsis or septic shock is systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) secondary to a documented infection (see Shock Classification, Terminology, and Staging). Detrimental host responses to infection occupy a continuum that ranges from sepsis to severe sepsis to septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). The specific clinical features depend on where the patient falls on that continuum. Symptoms of sepsis are often nonspecific and include the following:
Fever, chills, and rigors
Confusion
Anxiety
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue and malaise
Nausea and vomiting
These symptoms are not pathognomonic for sepsis syndromes and may be present in a wide variety of other conditions. Alternatively, typical symptoms of systemic inflammation may be absent in severe sepsis, especially in elderly individuals.
Fever is a common symptom, though it may be absent in elderly or immunosuppressed patients. The hypothalamus resets in sepsis, so that heat production and heat loss are balanced in favor of a higher temperature. An inquiry should be made about fever onset (abrupt or gradual), duration, and maximal temperature. These features have been associated with increased infectious burden and severity of illness. However, fever alone is an insensitive indicator of sepsis; in fact, hypothermia is more predictive of illness severity and death.
Chills are a secondary symptom associated with fever, developing as a consequence of increased muscular activity that produces heat and raises the body temperature. Sweating occurs when the hypothalamus returns to its normal set point and senses the higher body temperature, stimulating perspiration to evaporate excess body heat.
Mental function is often altered. Mild disorientation or confusion is especially common in elderly individuals. Apprehension, anxiety, agitation, and, eventually, coma are manifestations of severe sepsis. The exact cause of metabolic encephalopathy is not known; altered amino acid metabolism may play a role.
Hyperventilation with respiratory alkalosis is a common feature of patients with sepsis. This feature results from stimulation of the medullary respiratory center by endotoxins and other inflammatory mediators.
Localizing symptoms referable to organ systems may provide useful clues to the etiology of sepsis. Such symptoms include the following:
Head and neck infections – Severe headache, neck stiffness, altered mental status, earache, sore throat, sinus pain or tenderness, and cervical or submandibular lymphadenopathy
Chest and pulmonary infections – Cough (especially if productive), pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, dullness on percussion, bronchial breath sounds, localized rales, or any evidence of consolidation
Cardiac infections – Any new murmur, especially in patients with a history of injection or intravenous (IV) drug use
Abdominal and gastrointestinal (GI) infections – Diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, guarding or rebound tenderness, and rectal tenderness or swelling
Pelvic and genitourinary (GU) infections – Pelvic or flank pain, adnexal tenderness or masses, vaginal or urethral discharge, dysuria, frequency, and urgency
Bone and soft-tissue infections – Localized limb pain or tenderness, focal erythema, edema, and swollen joint, crepitus in necrotizing infections, and joint effusions
Skin infections – Petechiae, purpura, erythema, ulceration, bullous formation, and fluctuance
Sepsis or septic shock is systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) secondary to a documented infection (see Shock Classification, Terminology, and Staging). Detrimental host responses to infection occupy a continuum that ranges from sepsis to severe sepsis to septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). The specific clinical features depend on where the patient falls on that continuum. Symptoms of sepsis are often nonspecific and include the following:Fever, chills, and rigorsConfusionAnxietyDifficulty breathingFatigue and malaiseNausea and vomitingThese symptoms are not pathognomonic for sepsis syndromes and may be present in a wide variety of other conditions. Alternatively, typical symptoms of systemic inflammation may be absent in severe sepsis, especially in elderly individuals.Fever is a common symptom, though it may be absent in elderly or immunosuppressed patients. The hypothalamus resets in sepsis, so that heat production and heat loss are balanced in favor of a higher temperature. An inquiry should be made about fever onset (abrupt or gradual), duration, and maximal temperature. These features have been associated with increased infectious burden and severity of illness. However, fever alone is an insensitive indicator of sepsis; in fact, hypothermia is more predictive of illness severity and death.Chills are a secondary symptom associated with fever, developing as a consequence of increased muscular activity that produces heat and raises the body temperature. Sweating occurs when the hypothalamus returns to its normal set point and senses the higher body temperature, stimulating perspiration to evaporate excess body heat.Mental function is often altered. Mild disorientation or confusion is especially common in elderly individuals. Apprehension, anxiety, agitation, and, eventually, coma are manifestations of severe sepsis. The exact cause of metabolic encephalopathy is not known; altered amino acid metabolism may play a role.Hyperventilation with respiratory alkalosis is a common feature of patients with sepsis. This feature results from stimulation of the medullary respiratory center by endotoxins and other inflammatory mediators.Localizing symptoms referable to organ systems may provide useful clues to the etiology of sepsis. Such symptoms include the following:Head and neck infections – Severe headache, neck stiffness, altered mental status, earache, sore throat, sinus pain or tenderness, and cervical or submandibular lymphadenopathyChest and pulmonary infections – Cough (especially if productive), pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, dullness on percussion, bronchial breath sounds, localized rales, or any evidence of consolidationCardiac infections – Any new murmur, especially in patients with a history of injection or intravenous (IV) drug useAbdominal and gastrointestinal (GI) infections – Diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, guarding or rebound tenderness, and rectal tenderness or swellingPelvic and genitourinary (GU) infections – Pelvic or flank pain, adnexal tenderness or masses, vaginal or urethral discharge, dysuria, frequency, and urgencyBone and soft-tissue infections – Localized limb pain or tenderness, focal erythema, edema, and swollen joint, crepitus in necrotizing infections, and joint effusionsSkin infections – Petechiae, purpura, erythema, ulceration, bullous formation, and fluctuance
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
