Blood Infection Causes
- Blood infection -- or sepsis as it is commonly called in the medical profession -- occurs when an individual's body is fighting an infection that is spreading through the bloodstream. It is a potentially dangerous state because it can lead to an incident of extremely low blood pressure, or "shock." The body's own defense mechanisms can lead to this infectious state, or it can be as a result of outside bacteria or viruses.
- While anyone risks succumbing to a blood infection under the right circumstances, there are those who are more likely to become septic than others. Those with weak immune systems are at the highest risk for blood infection. This goes not only for those with immune-system diseases (such as AIDS) but for babies, whose immune systems are not yet strong enough to combat high levels of infection. Finally, the elderly are another high-risk portion of the population, especially those with immune system deficiencies due to diabetes.
- Bacteria is the most common cause of blood infection, and it can come in the form of a host of different microbes. This bacteria is picked up by unsanitary conditions (such as infrequent hand washing or -- commonly -- dealing with unclean animals) or sometimes through unsterilized hospital equipment. Viruses and fungi are also ways in which a person may become septic. Infections in the organs can sometimes spread to the bloodstream as well.
- An individual with a blood infection can be expected to show a few common symptoms. One of these is fever, often accompanied by chills and shivering. Disorientation, rash and increased heart rate are all typical symptoms of sepsis. Separating the symptoms of sepsis from other common illnesses (such as the flu) are swelling and pain in the joints, particularly the ankles and the wrists.