MamasHealth.com Home Blood Diseases Agnogenic Metaplasia Amyloidosis Aplastic Anemia Blood type Diabetes Hematuria Hemolytic Syndrome Hemophilia Hypercalcemia Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia Iron Deficiency Anemia ITP Leukemia Mastocytosis Multiple Myeloma Myelodysplastic Pernicious Anemia Polycythemia Vera Porhyria Sepsis Sickle Cell Anemia Thrombocytopenia Thrombophlebitis Von Willebrand's Disease Wegener's Granulomatosis Links Email Mama How to Switch Careers in Midlife Health benefits of sex	What is Sepsis? Sepsis is a severe illness caused by overwhelming infection of the bloodstream by toxin-producing bacteria. Microorganisms invading the body cause infections. Sepsis is also called Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Sepsis is very serious. It is often life-threatening. What Causes Sepsis? Sepsis is caused by a bacterial infection. The bacterial infection can originate anywhere in the body. The most common areas the infection originates from are: The kidneys The liver The gall bladder The bowel The skin The lungs In hospital patients, bacterial infection may originate from intravenous lines, surgical wounds, surgical drains, and sites of skin ulcers or bedsores. Sepsis can also be triggered by events such as pneumonia, trauma, surgery and burns, or by conditions such as cancer or AIDS. How is Sepsis Diagnosed? Sepsis can be diagnosed by a blood test. Symptoms of Sepsis Drop in blood pressure Hyperventilation Rapid heart beat Fever or hypothermia Chills Shaking Decreased urine output Warm skin Confusion or delirium Complications of Sepsis In some cases, the kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system, may stop functioning normally. There may also be a decreased blood flow to the kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system. Treatment Options for Sepsis Treatment will depend on where the infection originated. In order to do this, the source of the infection must be found. Who is at Risk for Developing Sepsis? Anyone can develop sepsis. However, some people have a higher risk than others. People with a higher risk include: People with a compromised immune system People who have wounds or injuries, such as those from burns, a car crash, or a bullet People who are have intravenous catheters, wound drainage, and urinary catheters	Sign up for our Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust
	Hot Topics: Domestic Violence: A pre-existing condition? Serena: The wanna be vegetarian Personal Story: How I recovered from my Eating Disorder Mama wants to help: Food Bank programs and shelter assistance Lucy Goes Green: Talk dirty to me How to avoid Swine Flu What no one will tell you about tummy tuck surgery Mama's favorite item of the week: Trees for the Future Foods for weight loss Win a Gift Bag filled with Goodies from Stonyfield
	Information obtained from MamasHealth.com™ should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner, nor should it be inferred as such. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about a specific condition. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use. Contact us: PO Box 2170, Pasadena, CA 91102-2170 ©2000 - 2009 MamasHealth, Inc.™. All rights reserved