Diagnosis
The diagnosis of septic shock requires a comprehensive examination, which leads to the initiation of therapy as soon as possible. The cornerstone of any medical examination – the medical history – can usually not be taken in the case of septic shock due to the patient’s circulatory condition. In unconscious persons, it is therefore necessary to focus on objective parameters such as respiratory rate, pulse, blood pressure and temperature and to stabilize these if necessary.
If the patient is conscious or an accompanying person is present, an anamnesis can provide further clarity. In addition, blood samples are taken and the patient is physically examined in order to be able to narrow down the cause more precisely. If the laboratory values are available, they are supplemented by imaging techniques such as X-rays or a CT scan. The diagnosis of “septic shock” is then made on the basis of an overview of the existing vital parameters, the inflammation values in the blood and the physical examination.
Associated symptoms
Septic shock is often accompanied by symptoms that can usually be explained by circulatory problems. In this state of shock, the body basically lacks fluid. As a result, the heart is no longer supplied with enough blood volume to pump it into the circulation.
It tries to compensate for this deficiency by increasing the heart rate, which the patient feels as an unpleasant palpitations. The lack of volume subjectively manifests itself for the affected person in weakness and dizziness, since in addition to all organs and tissues, the brain is also insufficiently supplied with blood and nutrients.This deficiency becomes threatening when the person concerned starts to see black dots or blurred. This points to an approaching circulatory collapse, which will show itself in a state of helplessness without any intervention.
If the circulatory disorder worsens further, the sympathetic nervous system is also activated in this stressful situation. The result is a cold sweaty sweating, which was originally intended to cool the body in combat situations. In a state of shock it manifests itself as a massive sweating. This sweating differs from the sweating caused by fever. The affected persons notice this intermittently with a feeling of heat during the fever phases.
