- Bacterial or fungal infections that spread, causing fluid to leak into body tissue, release toxins that lead to low blood pressure, resulting in septic shock. All parts of the body are susceptible to septic shock.
- Localized symptoms of infection include swelling, redness and tenderness. More severe symptoms of septic shock that occur when the infection has spread include extremities that are cool and pale, very low or high temperature readings, chills, palpitations or rapid heart rate, being lightheaded or short of breath, low blood pressure, more so when standing, releasing less urine than normal, restlessness, confusion, lethargy and agitation.
- Factors that increase the risk of developing septic shock include having diabetes, a disease of the biliary, genitourinary or intestinal system, leukemia or lymphoma, catheters that stay in place for long periods of time, immune system diseases, such as AIDS, using antibiotics for a long time, steroids, recent infection, and having recent surgery or a medical procedure.
- Patients with septic shock are admitted to the hospital and aggressive treatment is started. Treatment includes receiving oxygen, a breathing tube and ventilator, IV fluids and a catheter to assist with urine output. People are also advised to cough and breathe deeply to avoid lung infections. Antibiotics and blood pressure medications are also given to control infection and regain normal blood pressure levels.
- Toxic shock syndrome is caused by infection containing the staphylococcus bacteria. This condition causes some of the same symptoms as septic shock, such as fever and low blood pressure. The condition is caused by use of super-absorbent tampons. Other things that put people at risk of developing toxic shock syndrome are being more prone to infection from just giving birth, infected wounds, and people who have nasal surgery.
