Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Nervous System Disorders
Septicemia
What is septicemia?
Septicemia is the clinical name for blood poisoning. Septicemia that progresses to septic shock has a death rate as high as 50 percent, depending on the type of organism involved. Septicemia is a medical emergency and requires urgent medical treatment.
How does septicemia relate to meningitis:
Some bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause septicemia, particularly the meningococcal form. When meningococcus invades the body, it enters from the throat, gets into the bloodstream, and travels through the blood to the meninges.
* In some cases, the bacteria multiply uncontrollably in the bloodstream, which results in septicemia, before the bacteria can infect the meninges.
* In other cases, infection in the bloodstream and in the meninges develops at the same time, and these patients develop both septicemia and meningitis.
* In a minority of cases, the body can stop the bacteria multiplying in the bloodstream, but not in the meninges, and these patients develop meningitis.
What are the symptoms of septicemia?
The following are the most common symptoms of septicemia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
Patients with septicemia often develop a hemorrhagic rash - a cluster of tiny blood spots that look like pin pricks in the skin. If untreated, these gradually get bigger and begin to look like fresh bruises. These bruises then join together to form larger areas of purple skin damage and discoloration.
Septicemia develops very quickly. The patient rapidly becomes very ill, and may:
* lose interest in food and surroundings.
* become feverish.
* feel cold, with cool hands and feet.
* experience a coma and, sometimes, death.
* become lethargic, anxious, or agitated
Those who become ill more slowly may also develop some of the signs of meningitis. The symptoms of septicemia may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
Treatment for septicemia:
Specific treatment for septicemia will be determined by your physician based on:
* your age, overall health, and medical history
* extent of the condition
* your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
* expectations for the course of the condition
* your opinion or preference
Septicemia is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. In most cases, treatment will involve antibiotic medication.
What is septicemia?
Septicemia is the clinical name for blood poisoning. Septicemia that progresses to septic shock has a death rate as high as 50 percent, depending on the type of organism involved. Septicemia is a medical emergency and requires urgent medical treatment.
How does septicemia relate to meningitis:
Some bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause septicemia, particularly the meningococcal form. When meningococcus invades the body, it enters from the throat, gets into the bloodstream, and travels through the blood to the meninges.
* In some cases, the bacteria multiply uncontrollably in the bloodstream, which results in septicemia, before the bacteria can infect the meninges.
* In other cases, infection in the bloodstream and in the meninges develops at the same time, and these patients develop both septicemia and meningitis.
* In a minority of cases, the body can stop the bacteria multiplying in the bloodstream, but not in the meninges, and these patients develop meningitis.
What are the symptoms of septicemia?
The following are the most common symptoms of septicemia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
Patients with septicemia often develop a hemorrhagic rash - a cluster of tiny blood spots that look like pin pricks in the skin. If untreated, these gradually get bigger and begin to look like fresh bruises. These bruises then join together to form larger areas of purple skin damage and discoloration.
Septicemia develops very quickly. The patient rapidly becomes very ill, and may:
* lose interest in food and surroundings.
* become feverish.
* feel cold, with cool hands and feet.
* experience a coma and, sometimes, death.
* become lethargic, anxious, or agitated
Those who become ill more slowly may also develop some of the signs of meningitis. The symptoms of septicemia may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
Treatment for septicemia:
Specific treatment for septicemia will be determined by your physician based on:
* your age, overall health, and medical history
* extent of the condition
* your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
* expectations for the course of the condition
* your opinion or preference
Septicemia is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. In most cases, treatment will involve antibiotic medication.
Meningoccal septicaemia
Meningoccal septacemia is a form of blood poisoning. It is caused by the release of toxins into the blood that break down the walls of blood vessels. A rash can develop under the skin due to blood leakage that may leave red or brownish pin prick spots.
MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE
Meningococcal infection is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK and Ireland1.
Meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis) can cause meningitis or septicaemia, or a combination of these diseases.
There are several strains or 'groups' of meningococcal bacteria (A,B,C,W135,Y and Z). In the past 50 years, most meningococcal disease in the UK and Ireland2 has been due to MenB and MenC.
Meningococcal disease affects around 2,000 people in the UK and Ireland every year and about 1500 cases are laboratory-confirmed. Now that there is a very effective MenC vaccine, 85% of cases are caused by MenB infection3.
The disease can affect anyone of any age, but mainly affects babies, pre-school children and young people. Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia are life-threatening diseases, but most people affected do recover. Septicaemia on its own is more likely to be fatal than meningitis4.
Most survivors make a full recovery without long-term after effects, but some are left with disabilities or with problems that can alter their lives. A quarter of survivors find that the effects of the disease reduce their quality of life5.
Meningococcal infection is an important cause of illness globally. There are an estimated 1.2 million cases and 135,000 deaths worldwide each year6.
In the African 'meningitis belt' alone epidemics can cause more than 100,000 cases of meningitis and 10,000 deaths in a single year, nearly all of them due to MenA.
MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE
Meningococcal infection is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK and Ireland1.
Meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis) can cause meningitis or septicaemia, or a combination of these diseases.
There are several strains or 'groups' of meningococcal bacteria (A,B,C,W135,Y and Z). In the past 50 years, most meningococcal disease in the UK and Ireland2 has been due to MenB and MenC.
Meningococcal disease affects around 2,000 people in the UK and Ireland every year and about 1500 cases are laboratory-confirmed. Now that there is a very effective MenC vaccine, 85% of cases are caused by MenB infection3.
The disease can affect anyone of any age, but mainly affects babies, pre-school children and young people. Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia are life-threatening diseases, but most people affected do recover. Septicaemia on its own is more likely to be fatal than meningitis4.
Most survivors make a full recovery without long-term after effects, but some are left with disabilities or with problems that can alter their lives. A quarter of survivors find that the effects of the disease reduce their quality of life5.
Meningococcal infection is an important cause of illness globally. There are an estimated 1.2 million cases and 135,000 deaths worldwide each year6.
In the African 'meningitis belt' alone epidemics can cause more than 100,000 cases of meningitis and 10,000 deaths in a single year, nearly all of them due to MenA.
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