04/17/2021
From insect bites and stings, to an open wound exposed to contaminated water, there are myriad sources of bacterial infection. Bacteria are microscopic single-cell microorganisms that are found all around us. Most of them are harmless and many are helpful. For example, bacteria in your intestines (gut) help break down the food you eat so your body can digest it. However, some types of bacteria can cause bacterial infections, which in turn can cause sepsis.
Sometimes incorrectly called blood poisoning, sepsis is the body’s often deadly response to infection. Sepsis kills and disables millions and requires early suspicion and treatment for survival. Worldwide, one-third of people who develop sepsis die. Many who do survive are left with life-changing effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and fatigue, organ dysfunction (organs don’t work properly), and/or amputations.
Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in the body, such as pneumonia, influenza, or urinary tract infections. Bacterial infections are the most common cause of sepsis.
What are the symptoms of a bacterial infection?
Bacterial infections present in many ways, depending on the part of the body affected. If you have bacterial pneumonia, you may experience:
>Fever
>Cough, with phlegm
>Shortness of breath
>Sweating
>Shaking chills
>Headache
>Muscle pain
>Fatigue
>Chest pain with breathing
If you have a urinary tract infection, you may have some of these symptoms:
>Sudden and extreme urges to void (pass urine)
>Frequent urges to void
>Burning, irritation or pain as you void
>A feeling of not emptying your bladder completely
>A feeling of pressure in your abdomen or lower back
>Thick or cloudy urine – it may contain blood
>Fever
The common element with most bacterial infections are:
>Fever
>Chills
>Pain or discomfort in the affected area
But if the infection is in a joint, that joint and the surrounding area will likely hurt; if you have a sinus infection, you will probably have a headache and foul nasal discharge, and so on.
Prevention
Not all infections can be prevented, but the chances of spreading bacterial infections can be greatly reduced by following these tips:
>Wash your hands often, particularly if you are in a healthcare facility.
>Keep wounds clean and covered.
>Avoid sharing personal items, such as razors.
Time is of the Essence
If you experience these symptoms, see a healthcare professional QUICKLY. Bacterial infections that become septic spread quickly and the results are often traumatic, even fatal.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/noticed-purple-blister-hand-weeks-123000690.html
Warning: graphic images ahead.
