Septic Shock

Septic shock…the number one killer in the Intensive Care Unit, according to research. Sepsis is a serious medical condition which results to multiple organ failure, and eventually, death. It is caused by a decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen supply to the body as a result of bacterial infection. The bacteria spreads to the bloodstream, a condition called bacteremia. Toxins are then released by these bacteria which cause cells in the body to release substances that trigger inflammation. The body’s response to infection causes an abnormally high temperature with chills and weakness. Blood flow to vital organs such as the kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain decreases. As it gets worse, body organs begin to malfunction and blood pressure drops. Treatment should not be delayed. There must be immediate administration of antibiotics, oxygen, and large amounts of intravenous fluids to increase the amount of fluid in the bloodstream, thus increasing the blood pressure.

I can attest to this because my mom, too, was once a victim of sepsis. More than a year ago, my mom had cellulitis, an infection of the skin and underlying tissues. For days, she experienced fever, chills, and redness on her right leg, and eventually it became painful. She didn’t give it much attention until such time that she can’t bear the pain on her leg and she began to really feel weak and sick. We admitted her to the hospital and just a few hours had passed, she became so weak and almost had no life. Her blood pressure went down to 70/50 mmHg. She was delivered to the intensive care unit and was found out that she already had sepsis. She was given strong doses of antibiotics, albumin, oxygen, and different fluids intravenously. She endured such grave condition for almost a month in the ICU.

Looking back, it is truly a pain to remember such ordeal. But I guess that I should rather be glad that it had already passed and my mom bravely surpassed it.

Dengue Fever

I got a text message from my sister-in-law yesterday. It said that her three-year-old niece is diagnosed with dengue fever, and that her platelet count is going down. As a nurse, having witnessed and known how this disease attack and kill people, I really felt worried and scared. I can't imagine an innocent child suffer this kind of illness, because I, too, was once a victim of this. Experiencing abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness, and high fever is not easy. I told my sister-in-law to have her niece drink "tawa-tawa", a boiled herbal plant known to raise one's platelet. What is this illness that endangers one's life?
Dengue fever, or sometimes called, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, is an acute infectious disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti, a day-biting mosquito. They lay eggs in stagnant water found at homes and nearby places, such as flower vases, water drums, old rubber tires, and canals. Symptoms are manifested by a high fever, abdominal pain, weakness, skin rashes or petechiae (red tiny spots on the skin), vomiting, and dark tarry stools. Sad to say, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Patients are just advised to have adequate rest and drink plenty of fluids. It is essential to replace lost fluids for the patient to restore health, and in severe cases, transfusions are needed to control bleeding.

For now, there is nothing I can do for the three-year-old child but wait for their update. I just have to hope and pray that everything will turn out well and good.