I’m a doctor – here are 5 signs of a deadly infection that mean you need to call 999

A DOCTOR has uncovered the five signs of a deadly infection that mean you need to get help right away.

dr Mohan Sekeram, who posts health tips on TikTik, said these symptoms are a red flag and need to be treated immediately.

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He explained that if an adult or child has these signs of sepsis, they need to go to A&E or get help through 999.

Sepsis occurs when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts damaging your body’s tissues and organs.

dr Sekeram said, “Warning signs of sepsis: confused behavior, slurred speech, or making no sense.

“Blue, pale, or mottled skin, lips, or tongue.

“Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or breathing very quickly.

“Fever or chills or very cold.

“Clamy or sweaty skin.

“Red flags.”

The disease is always triggered by an infection – but it is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Most of the time, the culprit is an infection we all know—pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), skin infections, including cellulitis, and infections in the stomach, such as appendicitis.

When a person sustains a small cut, the area around the wound usually becomes red, swollen, and warm to the touch.

This is evidence that the body’s immune system has kicked in and released white blood cells to the site of the injury to kill the bacteria causing the infection.

When sepsis occurs, this system goes into overdrive.

The inflammation, typically only seen around the small incision, spreads throughout the body, affecting healthy tissues and organs.

The immune system – the body’s defense mechanism – overreacts and the result is that it attacks the body.

It can lead to organ failure and septic shock, which can prove fatal.

Sepsis is a non-discriminatory condition – it can affect old and young, those who live healthy lives and those who don’t.

BE CAREFUL

As with many life-threatening diseases, those most at risk are newborns, young children, and the elderly, as well as those with compromised immune systems.

Although it can affect us all, men are more susceptible than women, black people are more at risk than white people, and the very young and very old are more likely to be affected than any other age group.

People with diabetes, AIDS, kidney or liver diseases are also at greater risk due to their weakened immune system.

Pregnant women and people who have suffered severe burns or physical injuries are also more likely to become victims of the life-threatening disease.

If you suspect that you or a loved one has sepsis, this must be treated as a medical emergency.

Think of the reaction you would have to a heart attack, stroke or serious car accident – dial 999.

A person’s chances of surviving sepsis depend heavily on getting critical medical care as soon as possible.

The longer medical care lasts, the more likely it is that a patient will die.

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