Symptoms

Septic shock is a secondary state, which means that it is usually proceeded by bacteremia, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

·          Fever

·          Malaise

·          Chills

·          Nausea

It is extremely important to point out that the first sign of shock is often confusion and decreased consciousness. In this beginning stage, the extremities are usually warm, but later, as the condition progresses, they become cool, pale, and bluish. Fever may give way to lower-than-normal temperatures later on in the course of sepsis.

Other symptoms of septic shock include:

·          High or very low temperature, chills

·          Lightheadedness

·          Shortness of breath

·          Heart palpitations

·          Cool, pale extremities

·          Restlessness, agitation, lethargy, or confusion

·          A rapid heart rate

·          Low blood pressure, especially when standing up

·          Shallow, rapid breathing

·          Decreased urination

·          reddish patches in the skin

 

One big problem is that this septic shock syndrome may progress to cause "adult respiratory distress syndrome," or ARDS, which is an extremely dangerous condition because the fluid collects in the lungs, and breathing becomes very shallow and labored in these cases. Experts are saying that this condition may lead to ventilatory collapse, in which the patient can no longer breathe adequately without assistance — a life threatening condition!

How to recognize and diagnose the septic shock!? Like we have already mentioned in symptoms of the condition-the proper diagnosis of septic shock should be made by measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate. Of course, parallel with all this should be searching for possible sources of infection. Most experts claim that the most precise diagnostic tool is simple blood cultures are done to determine the type of bacteria responsible for the bacteremia. If we look on the respiratory symptoms then we should know that the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acidity in the blood should also be monitored to assess changes in respiratory function.