Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of sepsis* (blood poisoning).
Family history
- What is the general health of your family members?
Social anamnesis
Current medical history/systemic medical history (somatic and psychological complaints) [third-party medical history, if applicable].
- Do you have a fever? If so, for how long and how high?
- Have you noticed a pulse that is too fast?
- Did you notice rapid (strained) breathing?*
- Do you feel ill? Strongly exhausted?*
- How long have the symptoms been present? Have they changed in intensity?
- Is a triggering event remembered?
- Have there been any neurological abnormalities such as disturbances of consciousness?* .
- Have you suffered any injuries?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you smoke? If yes, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (infections)
- Operations
- Allergies
- Pregnancies
- Medication history
Sepsis can be classified according to the following scores:
- APACHE II score – acute physiology and chronic health evaluation.
- Sepsis score according to Elebute/Stoner
- SAPS-II – simplified acute physiology score
- SOFA score – sepsis-related organ failure assessment
In these scores, various criteria are recorded. These include blood pressure, pulse, various laboratory parameters, etc.
* If sepsis is suspected, immediate referral to the hospital!
