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Medical experts warn More and more patients die from blood poisoning
Hardly any disease is as underestimated as the sepsis, also called blood poisoning. According to experts, it is the third leading cause of death in Germany. This week begins a worldwide congress of sepsis professionals. The lectures will be held online.
Sepsis is underestimated
Hardly any illness is as underestimated in Germany as the blood poisoning. Not only people with a weakened immune system can hit a sepsis, even for healthy people there is danger. Often a small everyday accident is enough.
Scientists have now warned against a further increase in sepsis diseases. According to a report by the dpa news agency, the chairman of the Global Sepsis Alliance, Konrad Reinhart, in Jena said that the rate of sepsis in industrialized nations has risen steadily over the past few years.
Experts warn of rising sepsis rates in industrialized nations. In Germany, blood poisoning is the third leading cause of death. (Image: Zerbor / fotolia.com) More education required
"In the meantime, more people are dying from sepsis than from colon and breast cancer," said Reinhart, who was head of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care at the University Hospital Jena (UKJ) for many years.
Experts have long been calling for more education on hygiene issues, vaccination programs for high-risk patients and better training of healthcare professionals to better identify and treat sepsis. In addition, according to experts, an international sepsis registry must be established.
Flu-like symptoms
Because the symptoms are similar to those of flu, sepsis is often not easy to spot. Symptoms that can occur with a disease include fever, chills, accelerated heart rate, faster breathing, lower blood pressure and palpitations. Often sufferers also feel greatly exhausted and have a restless sleep.
However, there are no clear signs of blood poisoning, all symptoms may also indicate a different disease. However, if several of the signs occur together, in case of doubt, the emergency room of a hospital should be visited.
Third most frequent cause of death in Germany
Because of dangerous blood poisoning there is danger to life. As Reinhart explained years ago, "Sepsis is the third leading cause of death in Germany." In case of emergency, patients come to an intensive care unit, where they immediately receive an antibiotic. In addition, there is usually tried to stabilize circulation and blood pressure, so that the organs do not fail.
In addition, sepsis patients are also given large amounts of fluid via the veins and oxygen and possibly medication. Heart, circulation and respiration must be constantly monitored and the site of inflammation found in order to treat it.
Congress completely online
On Thursday, September 8, begins a worldwide congress of sepsis experts. The congress will be completely online. People who want to follow the lectures and discussions on the Internet live can register for free. According to Reinhart, around 10,000 organizations and individuals have already registered. (Ad)