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With over half of the world’s population now active on social media, the rate at which information is shared online has become increasingly alarming.
Recently, some parents took to TikTok to express grief over the loss of their babies. Many of them attributed the deaths to teething, a natural process during which a baby’s teeth begin to emerge through the gumline.
However, the emotional reactions and comments that followed these videos sparked questions on whether or not teething can cause death in babies. In response, DUBAWA conducted a fact-check to clarify the matter.
Following this, many parents on the platform began sharing their experiences. They revealed that their children had displayed similar symptoms initially attributed to teething but were later diagnosed with sepsis, as seen here, here, and here, while some users sought to know what the condition was all about.
Given the increasing circulation of information regarding deaths linked to sepsis, it is crucial to raise awareness about this condition to promote early detection and timely medical intervention.
Sepsis: A silent killer
Sepsis is a serious condition that arises when a person’s immune system reacts excessively to an infection, triggering inflammation in the body. While a person’s immune system typically protects the body, this extreme reaction causes damage to the body’s organs and tissues.
Causes of sepsis
Sepsis is typically caused by an infection, which may be bacterial, viral, or fungal. However, scientists have identified several infections that lead to sepsis. These include lung infection, skin infection, infection of the bloodstream, infection affecting the urinary tract, and infection of the digestive system.
Children below the age of one are very likely to suffer from sepsis, including adults older than 65. Other risk factors for this condition are people who have a weakened immune system, people who are suffering a chronic health condition, have severe injuries, have been recently hospitalised, have had to use antibiotics for treatment in the last three months, pregnant women, and so on.
Symptoms of sepsis
The symptoms of sepsis are not specific, as they vary from person to person; they could appear very differently in children and adults. WebMD explained that the symptoms of sepsis are a result of very low blood pressure and constricted blood flow to the organs. However, the World Health Organization has identified common symptoms. These include confusion, pain/fever, trouble breathing, peeing less frequently, and discoloured skin/rashes.
Some people may experience low body temperature, low blood pressure, diarrhoea, and vomiting, among others.
Stages of Sepsis
There are three stages of sepsis, acknowledged by medical science; they are:
Sepsis: This is the early stage where an infection gets into the bloodstream and causes inflammation in the body. It may be challenging to identify the condition, but common symptoms at this stage are high fever, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, and infection.
A person must have at least two of these early symptoms to get a diagnosis, and early intervention could increase the recovery rate.
Severe sepsis: At this stage, the infection starts affecting organ function, and this may be life-threatening.
Septic shock: This is the most dangerous phase of sepsis. Complications such as organ damage, low blood pressure, stroke, or even death may occur. The mortality rate at this stage is between 30% and 40%.
Prevention
Sepsis can be life-threatening, and the symptoms can go unnoticed. Being one of the leading causes of death worldwide, the best prevention for this condition is to avoid getting an infection. Data from the WHO shows that in 2020, there were 48.9 million sepsis cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide.
Preventive measures include good hygiene practices, updated vaccinations, appropriate wound management, early intervention, and seeking immediate medical care for chronic conditions.
