Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a medical emergency caused by the body’s response to an infection and can be life-threatening. Sepsis is the consequence of widespread inflammation (swelling) in the body. Inflammation and blood clotting during sepsis causes reduced blood flow to limbs and vital organs, and can lead to organ failure and even death. Over 1.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with sepsis yearly, and approximately 30% of patients do not survive.

Who is at risk for sepsis?

Sepsis can affect anyone, but those at particular risk include:

• The very old (older than 65 years old) or very young or pregnant women
• People with pre-existing infections or medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer and kidney disease
• People with weakened immune systems
• Patients who are in the hospital
• People with severe injuries, such as large burns or wounds
• Patients with catheters (IVs, urinary catheters) or a breathing tube

Symptoms and Causes

What causes sepsis?

Bacterial infections are the most common cause of sepsis. Sepsis can also be caused by fungal, parasitic, or viral infections. The source of the infection can be any of a number of places throughout the body. Common sites and types of infection that can lead to sepsis include:

• The abdomen: An infection of the appendix (appendicitis), bowel problems, infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis), and gallbladder or liver infections.
• The central nervous system: Infections of the brain or the spinal cord.
• The lungs: Infections such as pneumonia.
• The skin: Bacteria can enter skin through wounds or skin inflammation, or through the openings made with intravenous (IV) catheters (tubes inserted into the body to give or drain fluids). Conditions such as cellulitis (inflammation of the skin’s connective tissue) can also cause sepsis.
• The urinary tract (kidneys or bladder): Urinary tract infections are especially likely if the patient has a urinary catheter to drain urine.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Because of the many sites on the body from which sepsis can originate, there are a number of symptoms. The most prominent are:

• Fast heart rate
• Fever or hypothermia (very low body temperature)
• Shaking or chills
• Warm or clammy/sweaty skin
• Confusion or disorientation
• Hyperventilation (rapid breathing) or shortness of breath

Diagnosis and Tests

How is sepsis diagnosed?

A person may have sepsis if he or she has:

• A high or low white blood cell count
• A low platelet count
• Acidosis (too much acid in the blood)
• A blood culture that is positive for infection
• Abnormal kidney or liver function

Management and Treatment

How is sepsis treated?

The most important concern in sepsis is quick diagnosis and prompt treatment. Patients diagnosed with severe sepsis are usually placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital for special treatment. The doctor will first try to identify the source and the type of infection, obtain blood and urine tests and X-rays or CT scans, and give the patient antibiotics to treat the infection. (Note: Antibiotics are ineffective against infections caused by viruses.)

IV (intravenous or in the vein) fluids are administered to prevent blood pressure from dropping too low. In some cases, the patient may need vasopressor medications (which tighten blood vessels) to reach an adequate blood pressure. And finally, if organ failures occur, the patient will receive the appropriate supportive care (for example, dialysis for kidney failure, mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure, etc.).

Prevention

How can I help prevent sepsis?

• Apply good hand-washing practices
• Keep up to date on recommended vaccines
• Get routine medical care for chronic conditions
• Get medical attention immediately if you suspect an infection

Resources

Are there resources for people with sepsis?

You might find the following information to be useful if you are interested in finding sepsis resources:

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a medical emergency caused by the body’s response to an infection and can be life-threatening. Sepsis is the consequence of widespread inflammation (swelling) in the body. Inflammation and blood clotting during sepsis causes reduced blood flow to limbs and vital organs, and can lead to organ failure and even death. Over 1.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with sepsis yearly, and approximately 30% of patients do not survive.

Who is at risk for sepsis?

Sepsis can affect anyone, but those at particular risk include:

• The very old (older than 65 years old) or very young or pregnant women
• People with pre-existing infections or medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer and kidney disease
• People with weakened immune systems
• Patients who are in the hospital
• People with severe injuries, such as large burns or wounds
• Patients with catheters (IVs, urinary catheters) or a breathing tube

Symptoms and Causes

What causes sepsis?

Bacterial infections are the most common cause of sepsis. Sepsis can also be caused by fungal, parasitic, or viral infections. The source of the infection can be any of a number of places throughout the body. Common sites and types of infection that can lead to sepsis include:

• The abdomen: An infection of the appendix (appendicitis), bowel problems, infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis), and gallbladder or liver infections.
• The central nervous system: Infections of the brain or the spinal cord.
• The lungs: Infections such as pneumonia.
• The skin: Bacteria can enter skin through wounds or skin inflammation, or through the openings made with intravenous (IV) catheters (tubes inserted into the body to give or drain fluids). Conditions such as cellulitis (inflammation of the skin’s connective tissue) can also cause sepsis.
• The urinary tract (kidneys or bladder): Urinary tract infections are especially likely if the patient has a urinary catheter to drain urine.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Because of the many sites on the body from which sepsis can originate, there are a number of symptoms. The most prominent are:

• Fast heart rate
• Fever or hypothermia (very low body temperature)
• Shaking or chills
• Warm or clammy/sweaty skin
• Confusion or disorientation
• Hyperventilation (rapid breathing) or shortness of breath

Diagnosis and Tests

How is sepsis diagnosed?

A person may have sepsis if he or she has:

• A high or low white blood cell count
• A low platelet count
• Acidosis (too much acid in the blood)
• A blood culture that is positive for infection
• Abnormal kidney or liver function

Management and Treatment

How is sepsis treated?

The most important concern in sepsis is quick diagnosis and prompt treatment. Patients diagnosed with severe sepsis are usually placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital for special treatment. The doctor will first try to identify the source and the type of infection, obtain blood and urine tests and X-rays or CT scans, and give the patient antibiotics to treat the infection. (Note: Antibiotics are ineffective against infections caused by viruses.)

IV (intravenous or in the vein) fluids are administered to prevent blood pressure from dropping too low. In some cases, the patient may need vasopressor medications (which tighten blood vessels) to reach an adequate blood pressure. And finally, if organ failures occur, the patient will receive the appropriate supportive care (for example, dialysis for kidney failure, mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure, etc.).

Prevention

How can I help prevent sepsis?

• Apply good hand-washing practices
• Keep up to date on recommended vaccines
• Get routine medical care for chronic conditions
• Get medical attention immediately if you suspect an infection

Resources

Are there resources for people with sepsis?

You might find the following information to be useful if you are interested in finding sepsis resources:

Hospice Care for Sepsis/Septic Shock

Sepsis is different from other serious or chronic diseases that often lead
to a hospice diagnosis because of the speed at which it develops. If not
treated and addressed quickly, a sepsis-related infection can spread
quickly throughout the body and worsen, often within a matter of hours or a
few days. As soon as sepsis is diagnosed, it should be brought to the
immediate attention of hospice admissions personnel, because that’s when
VITAS can help. 

What is sepsis or septic shock?

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s immune
system responds inadequately to an infection, a response that damages the
body’s own tissues and major organs. Most sepsis-related infections are
caused by bacteria, but they can also stem from fungi, viruses or
parasites. The bloodstream, lungs, brain, urinary tract, skin and abdominal
organs are the most common locations for a primary sepsis infection.

Sepsis is classified into three stages, and if a referral to hospice is
necessary, it should be made quickly.

1. Sepsis
is the initial infection, which sets off an inflammatory immune
response that affects the entire body. Most people recover from mild
sepsis if antibiotics, fluids and supportive treatments are started
early, preferably within hours of diagnosis.

2. Severe sepsis impacts and impairs blood flow to vital organs, including the brain,
heart and kidneys. It can also cause blood clots to form in internal
organs, arms, fingers, legs and toes, leading to varying degrees of
organ failure and gangrene (tissue death). Among hospitalized patients,
sepsis is the leading cause of death (34%).¹ Symptoms of
severe sepsis include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Shock
• Kidney damage (marked by lower urine output), liver damage and other
  metabolic changes
• Delirium/changes in mental status
• Excessive bleeding
• Increased levels of lactate in the blood

3. Septic shock evolves when severe sepsis produces a dramatic drop in blood pressure.

Doctors rely on a variety of factors and tests to identify the source of
the infection and diagnose sepsis, including temperature, heart rate,
respiratory rate, blood/platelet counts, biomarker analysis and other
cultures/tests.

Are you a healthcare provider? Learn about the clinical characteristics of end-stage sepsis and download a PDF of our hospice eligibility guidelines.

Hospice provides control over care at the end of life. Start the discussion today.

How do you get sepsis or septic shock?

Patients develop sepsis when their body is unable to fight off an infection, usually because of underlying health conditions or chronic diseases that weaken the immune system. In about 73% of sepsis cases, patients already have sepsis when they enter the hospital, and another 26% develop it during their hospital stay.¹

Before sepsis develops, vulnerable patients are already likely to be compromised because of other diseases or illness, especially cancer, dementia, stroke, and chronic lung, heart, liver, or kidney disease.¹ Factors such as poor nutrition, declining functional or cognitive status, or uncontrolled symptoms can make it difficult for the body to fight off the infection that leads to sepsis.

Septic shock is not something that patients can contract. It develops when sepsis turns more severe and causes a dramatic drop in blood pressure that is difficult to manage with standard treatments.

To diagnose sepsis and identify the source of infection, doctors rely on a variety of factors and tests, including temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood/platelet counts, biomarker analysis, and other cultures/tests.

Who is most at risk for sepsis or septic shock?

Some patients are more susceptible than others, including those who:

• Are very young or very old
• Are suffering from a chronic illness or a drug-resistant bacterial
  infection
• Have weakened immune systems from HIV, cancer treatments, transplant
  drugs, diabetes or major trauma
• Have underlying illnesses (40% of hospitalized patients) that would
  make them eligible for hospice care, including advanced cancer, heart
  failure, advanced lung disease (shortness of breath at rest or with
  minimal exertion, with or without oxygen), and dementia accompanied by
  any difficulty with activities of daily living (eating, bathing,
  dressing, toileting, personal hygiene, etc. )
• Rely on invasive devices, including intravenous catheters, breathing
  tubes or ventricular assist devices for the heart

What patients and families should know about sepsis, and how hospice
can help

Patients are eligible for hospice care when a physician makes a clinical
determination that life expectancy is six months or less if the condition
or disease runs its expected course.

Many sepsis infections, however, occur in patients who are already
seriously ill, hospitalized, in the intensive care unit (ICU) or recovering
from a hospital procedure. However, elderly or debilitated patients may be
successfully managed and discharged to outpatient care to only begin a
persistent and progressive decline from the latent effects of this
insidious disease. Ideally, patients who develop sepsis and have survived
the initial hospitalization from sepsis, but are now experiencing decline,
should be evaluated for participation in goals-of-care conversations. These
conversations serve to identify their preferences for end-of-life care. If
eligible, hospice care is the most care these individuals can receive at
home.

Hospice admissions personnel should be contacted immediately when severe
progressive sepsis is diagnosed, because time is of the essence when a
potentially rapid, progressive infection occurs late in the disease
progress or in patients whose health is already unstable or compromised. If
sepsis does not result in the patient’s death, hospice care may be the best
option to manage long-term symptoms, address pain and support the patient
and family.

Here are some tips for families and patients who face the challenges of
serious illness, hospitalization or numerous procedures that put them at
risk of sepsis:

• Read and share “Considering Hospice: A Discussion Guide for
  Families.”
• Make your wishes known now: Talk about them, write them down, share
  them.
  
  If you are a patient at risk for sepsis, make sure to document your wishes
  and preferences for end-of-life care now, before a crisis arises. Decide
  what interventions you want and do not want if you face a life-limiting
  diagnosis or a potentially deadly infection like sepsis. When you have
  completed advance directives, such as a living will or durable power of
  attorney for healthcare decisions, your family, healthcare proxy and
  healthcare team can make decisions about end-of-life care without
  disagreement or guilt.

What is the difference between sepsis and septic shock?

Sepsis is caused by an infectious agent that invades the body, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus.

Septic shock is a severe form of sepsis that develops when a patient’s blood pressure drops dangerously low as it tries to fight the infection. Typically, blood pressure is difficult to bring back to normal with standard blood pressure medications and additional fluids.

¹
Rhee C., et al. “Prevalence, Underlying Causes and Preventability of
Sepsis-Associated Mortality in US Acute Care Hospitals. ” JAMA Network
Open. 2019;2(2):e187571

Call VITAS to learn more about hospice and palliative care options.

Can you spot the signs and symptoms of sepsis?

In adults

Initial symptoms can often be flu-like and feeling seriously unwell. Signs of fever with cold hands and feet, or sometimes even an abnormally low temperature along with feeling extremely unwell, should be cause for concern (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Signs and symptoms of sepsis in adults

If you think you have these symptoms or are worried about one of your patients, seek urgent medical advice.

In children

Any child who: feels abnormally cold to touch; looks mottled, bluish or has very pale skin; has a rash that does not fade when you press it; is breathing very fast; has a ‘fit’ or convulsion; is very lethargic or difficult to wake up might be critically ill. If a child has one or more of these symptoms call 999 and say you’re worried about sepsis. See Figure 2.

Fig. 2

Signs and symptoms of sepsis in children

Any child under the age of five who is not feeding; is vomiting repeatedly or has not urinated or had a wet nappy for 12 hours might have sepsis. If a child under five has one of these symptoms it is important to speak to a doctor and say you’re worried about sepsis (Fig. 2).

Signs and symptoms that could indicate meningitis or sepsis in babies include: no wet nappy for 12 hours; tense, bulging fontanelle; refusing food and vomiting; unusual cry, moaning; drowsy, floppy and unresponsive; pale, blotch skin, spots/rash; convulsions/seizures; rapid breathing or grunting; fever, cold hands and feet; does not want to be touched or held (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3

Signs and symptoms of sepsis in babies

First Aid for Life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.

What does it mean when you hear someone is septic? – Kaieteur News

What does it mean when you hear someone is septic?

Dec 17, 2017
Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Sepsis is a common condition that accounts for over 6 million deaths worldwide every year. Persons often talk or hear about someone being “septic”; but do you actually know what septic means?
Sepsis and septic are used interchangeably and mean the same thing. Today, I will elaborate on this deadly condition so that you can have a better understanding of it and be able to detect it earlier.
WHAT IS SEPSIS?
Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by your body’s response to an infection. Your immune system protects you from many illnesses and infections, but it’s also possible for it to go into overdrive in response to an infection.
Sepsis develops when the chemicals the immune system releases into the bloodstream to fight an infection cause irritation throughout the entire body instead. Severe cases of sepsis can lead to septic shock, which is a medical emergency. It can happen in anyone, but it is more likely to happen in people who:
– Are older or bedridden
– Are staying in the hospital or have had recent surgery
– Have thin tubes such as catheters or IVs in their body
– Have a weak infection-fighting system (for example because they are being treated for cancer)
Sepsis can come from an infection in any part of the body, but it is most often linked to infections in the:
– Lungs (called pneumonia)
– Kidneys (called urinary tract infection)
– Skin (called cellulitis)
– Bowel (called colitis) – Sepsis caused by colitis is especially likely after a course of antibiotics.
Sepsis needs to be treated quickly. If it is not treated, it can become severe. When this happens, it is called “septic shock. ” Septic shock is life-threatening.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS?
Symptoms of sepsis can include:
– A fever – But some people get a low body temperature instead of a fever.
– Chills
– Breathing that is very fast
– A heartbeat that is very fast
Symptoms of severe sepsis can include:
– Acting confused or feeling light-headed
– Trouble breathing
– Cool, clammy skin or red, flushed skin
– Poor appetite
– Urinating much less than usual
– Different types of skin rashes – One type is a lacy, purple rash that is usually on the legs, but can also be on the arms. Another rash looks like red or purple spots on the skin that do not go away when touched. These spots are usually on the chest and legs, but can also be in other areas.
– Other problems with the heart, kidneys, or brain
People who have septic shock have many of the symptoms listed above, plus their blood pressure gets low and they sometimes pass out.
SHOULD I SEE
THE DOCTOR?
Yes, as soon as possible. Sepsis can develop when you are at home or in the hospital. In either case, you (or the person with you) should call the doctor if you:
– Have a fever and chills, and have any of the symptoms above or look very sick
– Have had a recent surgery or hospital stay, and now are sick or have an infection
If your doctor is unable to see you immediately, or you can’t reach him or her, you should go to the nearest hospital/clinic.
WILL I HAVE TESTS?
Your doctor will learn about your symptoms and do an exam. He or she will likely do tests to look for an infection, see if the infection has spread to your blood, and see how serious your condition is. These tests can include:
– Blood tests, including tests called “blood cultures”
– Urine tests
– Lab tests – For example, if you are coughing up mucus, your doctor can test your mucus for bacteria.
– X-rays or other imaging tests – Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of your body. These might include a test to look at your heart, called an echocardiogram (or “echo” for short).
HOW IS SEPSIS TREATED?
Sepsis and septic shock are usually treated in the hospital with:
– Antibiotics that go in your vein through a thin tube called an “IV”
– Fluids that go in your vein through an IV
– Other medicines to treat your condition – For example, if your blood pressure is too low, your doctor can give you medicine to raise it.
If an IV or catheter in your body is causing your sepsis, your doctor might take the IV or catheter out. Some people are also treated with surgery. If you have a severe infection of the skin or tissue under the skin, your doctor might do surgery to remove the infected areas. Some people with severe septic shock might need a blood transfusion. A blood transfusion is when a person gets blood that was given (donated) by another person. But this is rare.
CAN SEPSIS BE
PREVENTED?
You can help prevent sepsis by:
– Getting treated right away if you get an infection
– Avoiding infections – One way to avoid infections is to get the vaccines your doctor recommends. Vaccines can prevent serious or deadly infections.
If you have a child, make sure he or she gets the recommended vaccines, too.
If you suspect you have an infection, do not hesitate to seek treatment. Delays in treating infections lead to sepsis and possibly death if untreated.

Related

Septic shock – Illnesses & conditions

Sepsis and septic shock are medical emergencies and must be treated immediately.

It’s likely you’ll be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for urgent treatment and to carefully monitor your progress. In some cases treatment may begin in the emergency department.

Oxygen therapy

To help you breathe more easily, you’ll be given oxygen through a face mask, a tube inserted into your nose, or an endotracheal tube inserted into your mouth. If you have severe shortness of breath, a mechanical ventilator may be used.

Increasing blood flow

You’ll probably be given fluids directly into a vein. This will help raise your blood pressure by increasing the amount of fluid in your blood.

To increase the blood flow to your vital organs, such as your brain, liver, kidneys and heart, you may be prescribed inotropic medicines or vasopressors.

Inotropic medicines 

Inotropic medicines (inotropes), such as dobutamine, stimulate your heart. They increase the strength of your heartbeat, which helps get oxygen-rich blood to your tissues and organs, where it’s needed.

Vasopressors

Vasopressors include:

• dopamine
• adrenaline
• noradrenaline

These medicines will cause your blood vessels to narrow, increasing your blood pressure and the flow of blood around your body. This will allow your vital organs to start functioning properly.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are often used to treat the associated bacterial infection. The type of antibiotic used depends on the type of bacterial infection and where in the body the infection started.

You may be started on antibiotics immediately to increase your chances of survival. Initially, two or three types of antibiotics may be used. The most effective type of antibiotic can be used once the bacterium responsible for the infection is identified.

Surgery

In severe cases of sepsis or septic shock, the large decrease in blood pressure and blood flow can kill organ tissue. If this happens, surgery may be required to remove the dead tissue.

Sepsis – what it is and triggers like septicaemia and blood poisoning

On this page

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body damages its own tissues and organs in response to an infection. It can lead to septic shock, organ failure and even death if sepsis is not diagnosed and treated early.

What is the difference between sepsis and septicaemia?

Septicaemia is when bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning. This can trigger sepsis.

Sepsis is sometimes referred to as septicaemia; however, they are not the same thing.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

The symptoms of sepsis vary. They can include:

• fever or low temperature
• chills
• uncontrolled shaking
• rapid breathing and heart rate
• tiredness
• headaches

If sepsis gets worse, symptoms can include:

Sepsis can develop more quickly in young children and babies. Seek urgent medical care if your child has:

• a fit
• rapid breathing
• discoloured skin, very pale or bluish
• a rash that doesn’t fade when you press it
• fever OR very low temperature
• not passing urine (or no wet nappy) for several hours
• vomiting repeatedly
• not feeding
• drowsiness or listlessness

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use healthdirect’s Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What causes sepsis?

Sepsis can start with infection by bacteria, a virus, fungi or protozoa. The initial infection can be anywhere in the body, like in the bladder or abdomen (the gut), or in the chest, or even on the skin. With sepsis, the body’s immune reaction to the infection causes a large inflammatory response which makes things worse, not better. This can cause the body’s organs to not work properly and if not treated can cause organ failure, a sudden drop in blood pressure called septic shock or even death.

Anyone can get sepsis, but people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, pregnant or recently pregnant women, the very young, people with illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, AIDS and kidney or liver disease, and people who have had a severe burn are at greater risk.

How is sepsis diagnosed?

A doctor will examine the person with sepsis and will organise blood tests. Other bodily fluids such as urine and sputum might also be tested. The person might also need x-rays and perhaps other scans as well.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — healthdirect’s Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use healthdirect’s Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How is sepsis treated?

Immediate treatment in hospital is vital. Severe sepsis needs to be treated in intensive care. Treatment includes antibiotics and intravenous fluids. It’s vital to get to hospital as quickly as possible — the risk of dying from sepsis increases with each hour that passes before treatment begins.

People with sepsis may need help for their lungs or kidneys to work or surgery to remove the infection. Many other medications may be used to revive someone who has gone into septic shock.

Complications of sepsis

Sepsis can cause temporary or permanent organ damage, organ failure, septic shock and death. People who have had severe septic shock may develop gangrene which needs to be treated with the amputation of fingers, toes or limbs.

Resources and support

If you’re unsure whether it’s sepsis, seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

You can download the app Could this be sepsis? from the Australian Sepsis Network (ASN), to check your symptoms.

The ASN has also put together a guide about life after sepsis, including a list of sepsis support groups.

90,000 UNFUSED: Living foreign organisms, morgellons – in COVID-19 tests and masks

Checking fakes in partnership with Facebook

The network disseminates information that Czech or German researchers allegedly found living foreign organisms – morgellons in tests for COVID-19 and medical masks. They also claim that morgellons are supposedly hollow polymer tubes with a uranium tip that can receive radio signals, or synthetic biorobots.

Explain that is not so .

There are no reliable reports of any foreign organisms found in sampling probes or medical masks. Previously, information on the detection of Morgellon’s disease fibers in tests for COVID-19 was denied by independent fact checkers with AP Fact Feck, FullFact, France 24 – Les Observateurs.

Morgellon disease is a rare, poorly understood condition characterized by the appearance of small fibers or other particles emanating from skin ulcers.People with this condition often report feeling like something is crawling or stinging their skin. There is no consensus in the scientific community, indeed, Morgellon disease is physical and not a hallucination. There is not enough research on this condition yet. Therefore, Morgellon’s disease is not included in the international classifier of diseases.

Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, Fellow and Representative of the American Society for Infectious Diseases, described the condition as a neuropsychiatric disorder because patients suffer from unreasonable symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States conducted a 4-year study that showed that Morgellon disease is similar to delusional parasitosis, when people believe that their body is infected with organisms. Laboratory analysis of fibers found in people complaining of Morgellon’s disease has shown that these fibers are from cotton. Therefore, it cannot be argued that morgellons are hollow polymer tubes with a uranium tip that can receive radio signals.

So, to say that there are morgellons in tests for COVID-19 and medical masks is groundless, because the existence of such parasites has not been proven .

90,000 Coronavirus: is it possible to get infected on the street and where is the greatest risk?

• David Schuckman
• BBC Science News Editor

January 16, 2021

Photo Credit, PA Media

It is already known that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that caused the global pandemic spreads easily in indoors, but can you pick it up on the street?

For example, on a walk with a friend or girlfriend, from a runner running by or from people standing with you under the visor at the bus stop?

Is it safe outside?

Fresh air dilutes the concentration of the virus.In the air, liquid droplets, which contain viral particles, also evaporate more easily.

Plus, the ultraviolet rays of the sun kill the virus on the surface.

Nevertheless, despite all these factors that reduce the risk, it is still possible to get infected on the street.

One study found that 15 minutes of face-to-face exposure in the air was enough for one man in China to catch the infection from another.

So the risk is small, but still there.What does it depend on?

Less than two meters?

If a person is infected (although they may not know about it, because they have no symptoms), then they will excrete viral particles with breathing, especially with a cough or cough.

Some of the particles will be in the form of droplets, most of which will quickly fall to the ground, but some can get into your eyes, nose or mouth if you are within two meters of this person.

Therefore, the advice is this: do not be face to face if you are so close to each other.

The infected person also releases smaller, aerosol particles into the air. Indoors they accumulate in the air, which can be dangerous, but they quickly dissipate outside.

Photo author, Alamy

The more time, the worse?

When someone walks by on the street or a runner jogs, you are close to each other for a matter of seconds.

In such cases, it is extremely unlikely that you received any significant dose of infection.

“We don’t want people to be afraid of meeting passers-by on the street,” says Professor Cat Noakes, who is part of the British government’s advisory team.

According to her, in order to infect you, an infected passer-by will have to cough or sneeze directly at you, and at that very moment you will have to inhale this air and receive a dose of infection.

However, she warns that those who spend a long time on the street with friends should not think that they are completely safe in terms of infection.

For example, going for a run together and running behind someone for 20 minutes or more in that person’s breath may pose a certain risk of infection.

“The sad fact is that the people you know personally are the biggest risks,” she says.

Street street strife

So, scientists have established that the risk of transmission of infection is small in open space.

But the threat remains in confined spaces such as stalls in the market, bus stops, terraces – even if they are not crowded.

Wherever there is no air movement, it begins to stagnate and become polluted.

Therefore, doctors advise you to wear a mask in such places, for example, in narrow aisles, alleys, or when you are standing in a long line.

Can you catch a virus on a park bench?

If a person infected with a coronavirus sneezed or coughed in the palm of his hand, and then wiped his hands on any surface, then the virus can persist on it for several hours.

Scientists in the United States have discovered that the virus persists on trash can handles and crosswalk switch buttons.

In their opinion, this could lead to an outbreak of diseases in a certain area, albeit on a smaller scale compared to other routes of transmission of the coronavirus.

However, it must be remembered that in winter the virus lasts longer on the street.

He loves cold temperatures – this is why there have been several outbreaks of disease in meat processing plants and storage facilities.

In addition, in the cold season, the nose starts to leak outside, and many people wipe it with their hands out of habit, and as a result, the likelihood of viruses settling on some surface increases.

At the same time, many scientists have now come to the conclusion that the amount of virus that you can catch in this way will be minimal, and it will disappear from the surface in an hour or two.

Photo by PA Media

Where are the chances of getting infected the most?

All indications are that the majority of covid infections occur primarily indoors.The virus is transmitted directly through communication, especially if people are together for a long time.

This means that the virus can be transmitted in several ways.

Either through infected liquid particles that settle on a person (face, exposed parts of the body or clothing), or through contaminated surfaces.

And in a stuffy room, aerosol particles of the virus are concentrated in the air breathed by those who are there.

Features of the “British” strain of coronavirus: stronger cough and fatigue, less often – loss of smell

January 28, 2021

Photo author, Getty Images

The new, so-called British strain of coronavirus, is more inherent in symptoms such as coughing, severe fatigue, sore throat and muscles, but the loss of smell is less pronounced than that of the “Chinese” version, found out in the National Statistical Office of Great Britain.

The conclusions of the department were made after processing the data of 6 thousand people selected at random in England, who were diagnosed with Covid-19.

Symptoms such as loss of smell and taste sensitivity are less common with the new strain. But they are still among the three main symptoms of the disease: high fever, recent persistent cough, and changes in taste sensitivity.

Most infected people show at least one of these three symptoms.

The new strain, first identified in Kent County in September 2020, has the potential to spread faster than the original virus. It was found in all parts of Britain and caused a sharp increase in the number of new infections, which eventually forced the authorities to impose a widespread lockdown.

There is some reason to believe that this strain is more deadly, but there is still no sufficient scientific basis to confirm this.

Also, two other strains were identified in the country – from South Africa and Brazil, but only in isolated cases.

Employees of the statistical office analyzed the symptoms experienced by the sick during the week before receiving a positive test for the new Covid-19 strain. They were compared to the symptoms of those who contracted the “original” strain.

The results of people who fell ill from mid-November 2020 to mid-January 2021 were taken into account. The data indicate that the new strain is compatible with two genes, rather than three, as in the first case.

From a group of 3.5 thousandpeople infected with the new strain:

• 35% coughed
• 32% experienced fatigue
• 25% complained of pain in muscles and in the whole body
• 21.8% experienced sore throat

From group 2, 5 thousand people infected with the previous strain:

• 28% coughed
• 29% felt tired 16% of those infected with the new strain lost their taste sensitivity, and 15% lost their sense of smell.This is less than in people with the old strain (18% in both cases).

  Data for headache, difficulty breathing or diarrhea and vomiting were identical.

  Lawrence Young, a virologist and professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick, says 23 changes were found in the new strain compared to the one found in Wuhan.

  “Certain changes in the structure of the virus can affect the body’s immune response and affect the symptoms that infection causes,” said the scientist.

  In the body of those infected with the new strain, apparently, the virus multiplies more intensively, which can cause the infection to spread more widely throughout the body, which is probably associated with a more severe cough, muscle pain and fatigue, Young added.

  Infected with coronavirus spoke about the disease: People: From life: Lenta.ru

  A nurse from the American state of Colorado, who contracted a new coronavirus infection, spoke about the course of the disease. Reported by KDVR.

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  20:35 – March 16, 2020

  Lisa Merck contracted the infection while on vacation in Hawaii.“On the last day before returning, I started to squish a little,” she recalls. On the plane, her left side of her body began to ache. “When we got home, my muscles ached, my bones ached, and especially my joints,” says the woman. She assumed it was the flu and was tested, but her guess was not confirmed.

  Merck’s health continued to deteriorate. At the end of February, she began to feel sick, and in early March her temperature rose. After that, she turned to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the local health department, but they refused to test her for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus because she did not travel abroad, did not come into contact with infected people and did not meet the criteria under which this test is done. …

  A few days later, Merck began to have severe shortness of breath and felt constant fatigue. On the evening of March 8, she asked her husband to take her to the hospital. According to her, she felt unwell as soon as she got to her feet. The woman was afraid that she would faint. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with viral pneumonia. On March 11, tests confirmed that she was infected with a new coronavirus infection.

  Merck has a mild illness that does not require hospitalization, so she was sent home.The woman is still tormented by muscle pain, during her illness she lost 2.3 kilograms. She and her husband were ordered to maintain self-isolation, not to go out and not meet with other people until tests show that she is healthy.

  According to the latest data, more than seven thousand people have died due to a new coronavirus infection, more than 185 thousand cases of infection have been identified. The virus is transmitted through small droplets that are secreted from the patient’s nose or mouth and deposited on surrounding objects.WHO recommends staying more than a meter from infected people, washing or decontaminating your hands regularly, and avoiding touching your mouth, nose and eyes.

  More interesting and surprising – in our Instagram. Subscribe!

  Trichomoniasis – Information Bulletin of the Center for Treatment and Prevention

  Most people with trichomoniasis do not notice any symptoms of the disease.

  What is trichomoniasis?

  Trichomoniasis (https: // www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/default.htm) (or trichomoniasis) is a widespread sexually transmitted disease (STD). It occurs due to infection with a protozoan called Trichomonas vaginalis. Since the symptoms of trichomoniasis vary, most people who are infected cannot independently determine whether they have the disease.

  How common is trichomoniasis?

  Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease.According to experts, in the United States, the number of infected people is 3.7 million. However, only about 30% of patients experience symptoms of this disease. The infection is more common in women than in men. Older women suffer from it more often than younger women.

  How can you get trichomoniasis?

  During sex, microorganisms are passed from an infected person to a healthy person. In women, the lower genitals (vulva, vagina, cervix, or urethra) are most commonly affected.In men, the inside of the penis (urethra). During sex, microorganisms are transferred from the penis to the vagina or from the vagina to the penis. They can also pass from one vagina to another. Microorganisms can also infect other parts of the body, such as the hands, mouth, or anus. It is not yet known why some infected people develop symptoms of trichomoniasis while others do not. It probably depends on the age and general health of the person. Even in the absence of symptoms, the carrier of the disease can pass it on to others.

  What are the signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis?

  Approximately 70% of infected people show no signs or symptoms of the disease. When symptoms occur, symptoms can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Some people develop symptoms 5–28 days after infection. Others develop symptoms much later. Symptoms may come and go.

  Symptoms in men:

  • itching or irritation inside the penis;
  • burning after urination or ejaculation;
  • discharge from the penis.

  Symptoms in women:

  • genital itching, burning, redness, or soreness;
  • discomfort when urinating;
  • Changes in vaginal discharge (odor or quantity changes), may become clear, white, yellowish or greenish with an unusual fishy odor.

  Having trichomoniasis can cause discomfort when having sex. Without treatment, the disease can last for months or even years.

  What are the complications of trichomoniasis?

  Trichomoniasis increases the risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections. For example, trichomoniasis can cause inflammation of the genitals, making it easier to get HIV or transmit HIV (https://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv) to a sexual partner.

  How does trichomoniasis affect a pregnant woman and an unborn child?

  Pregnant women with trichomoniasis (https://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/stdfact-pregnancy.htm) are more likely to have premature babies (preterm birth occurs).In addition, children born to such mothers are more likely to have low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg).

  How is trichomoniasis diagnosed?

  Trichomoniasis cannot be diagnosed based on external symptoms alone. Therefore, contact a medical institution where you will be examined and laboratory tests performed.

  How is trichomoniasis treated?

  For the treatment of trichomoniasis, special drugs are used (metronidazole or tinidazole). They come in pill form.These drugs are safe for pregnant women. After taking them, it is not recommended to consume alcohol for 24 hours.

  A person who has recovered from trichomoniasis can get it again. About one in five people who recovered will become infected again within 3 months after the end of treatment. To avoid re-infection, you need to make sure that all sex partners are treated. In addition, you must wait 7-10 days after the end of treatment and only then have sex again.If symptoms reappear, re-examination is necessary.

  How can I prevent getting trichomoniasis?

  The only way to avoid STDs is not to have vaginal, anal or oral sex.

  If you are sexually active, then to reduce the likelihood of contracting trichomoniasis:

  • Maintain a long-term mutual monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and tested negative for STDs;
  • Use latex condoms correctly every time you have sex.This can reduce the likelihood of infection. However, microorganisms can enter areas that are not covered by a condom, so condoms cannot completely protect you from trichomoniasis.

  You can also discuss the potential risk of STDs with your new sex partner in advance . And based on the results of this conversation, make an informed decision, taking into account the risks that you are ready to take in your sex life.

  If you or someone you know has questions about trichomoniasis or any other STD, see your doctor.

  90,000 Ways of HIV transmission – How to protect yourself? – HIV / AIDS: materials of the UN Children’s Fund

  How to protect yourself?

  Routes of HIV transmission

  HIV is transmitted through the transfer of body fluids containing the immunodeficiency virus from one person to another.

  The immunodeficiency virus is present in the following body fluids: blood, semen and pre-ejaculatory secretions, vaginal secretions and breast milk.This virus is also found in saliva, however, according to experts, its concentration is too low to cause disease.

  Meeting at a jazz club in the capital of Zambia, Lusaka. Photo by UNICEF It follows that kissing, even deep open-mouthed kissing, carries no risk. It is also impossible to become infected with HIV through normal touching, such as shaking hands. Moreover, you cannot become infected with HIV by touching the thing that the HIV-infected person has already touched.HIV also cannot be transmitted through the air. Biological fluids containing the immunodeficiency virus enter the human body only through damage to the tissues / skin.

  sex

  Unprotected penetrative sex is the most common way of getting body fluids from one organism to another, which can lead to the spread of the virus. “Unprotected” means sex without a condom, “penetrating” means that during intercourse, the penis enters or enters the vagina or anus.In this case, semen infected with the immunodeficiency virus, vaginal fluid or blood from one person can enter the body of another person through tiny cuts or wounds in the vagina, anus or on the penis. These cuts or wounds may be so small that they cannot be seen.

  The presence of another sexually transmitted disease increases the likelihood of contracting HIV. sexually transmitted diseases cause damage to the tissues of the genital organs, contributing to the ingress of contaminated blood into the circulatory system.Sexually transmitted diseases can also cause serious health problems. Therefore, if symptoms such as pain, ulcers or wounds, itching or swelling, or urinary problems occur in the genitals, you should definitely consult a healthcare professional. All hospitals, medical centers, clinics and private doctors can cure sexually transmitted diseases. You should not be shy: regardless of where the treatment is taking place, all information about it is confidential.

  Drugs and needles

  Drug addicts who use non-sterile needles, syringes and water for flushing put themselves at immense risk of HIV infection. Body fluids (most often blood) containing the immunodeficiency virus can enter the bloodstream directly through the needles on the syringe, making the risk of infection very high.

  Tattoos and body piercings produced using non-sterile equipment also carry the risk of HIV infection.

  Mother-to-child transmission

  Mothers with HIV can transmit it to their babies during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. If an HIV-infected woman becomes pregnant, there is a 35 percent chance that she will pass the virus on to her baby in the absence of preventive treatment.

  Blood transfusion and blood products

  Every blood donor should be tested for HIV to prevent contaminated blood from entering another organism.Unfortunately, not all medical services include testing donated blood for the presence of the immunodeficiency virus.

  90,000 What is a coronavirus antibody test

  A test for antibodies to the new coronavirus has begun in Moscow, which will allow not only to understand how immunity to infection is developed in the population, but also to identify potential plasma donors for infected patients. The head of the Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, told the Head of the Department of Immunology of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University about how this system works, about the procedure for blood transfusion from patients to patients and about the prognosis for the “second wave” of COVID-19 in the country.M.V. Lomonosov, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Immunity, Institute of Molecular Biology. V.A. Engelhardt of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the head of the direction “Immunobiology and Biomedicine” of the Scientific and Technological University “Sirius”, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Nedospasov .

  – Sergey Arturovich, what determines how a person is sick with coronavirus – asymptomatic or with symptoms?

  – Strictly speaking, science does not know why. We have other coronaviruses.Perhaps asymptomatic patients have some kind of immunity.

  – Why did the Ministry of Health suggest on April 13 all those diagnosed with SARS to be considered coronavirus patients?

  – I think that the decision of the Ministry of Health is based on the impossibility of quickly and reliably testing the population, while they are afraid to miss real cases. This decision has been mixed by scientists, but doctors who are at the forefront of the fight against infection when they are lacking in something can make decisions based on the circumstances.

  – How much does the virus affect the human body? Does it depend on how the disease progressed?

  – This is a very complex and extensive question. In short, a viral infection in the lower respiratory tract leads to pathological processes that can even lead to death.

  – How is herd immunity formed?

  – It is believed that when the majority of the population has an immune response (in this case, antibodies that neutralize the virus), the virus stops spreading.Therefore, even a person who does not have immunity will be protected through this “collective effect” – the likelihood of encountering a virus is too low.

  – How likely and strong can the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic be?

  – If there is no prophylactic vaccine, then the second wave is possible. But, most likely, it will be on a much smaller scale. When this can happen, one can only guess: here are the features of the virus, and the features of the life of this population, and the features of the health care system.

  – At the Sklifosovsky Institute for Emergency Medicine and City Hospital No. 52 in Moscow, the first blood transfusion procedures were carried out for patients with a new coronavirus infection from patients who have already recovered from COVID-19. What is the principle of this method of treatment? How widely has this procedure been used previously to treat infectious diseases in the world?

  – This is a classic technique called serotherapy and was awarded the first Nobel Prize to Emil von Bering in 1901.In the serum (or plasma) of the blood, that is, in the blood of those who have been ill, there are protective antibodies. If they are mechanically transferred to another, then both preventive and therapeutic effects are possible – of course, if the disease has not gone too far. So, for example, diphtheria, tetanus, encephalitis were treated.

  It will take tens, if not hundreds of thousands of donors to protect one million people. In practice, it is not possible to organize this, although it works on a small scale.

  – How many people can one donor save?

  – A single dose may protect a small number of people. It will take tens, if not hundreds of thousands of donors to protect one million people. In practice, it is not possible to organize this, although it works on a small scale. And we must remember about other infections that can be transferred with such a procedure.

  – Now test systems for antibodies to coronavirus in Russia have begun to be used to test doctors in order to understand which of them has had the disease and which of them has immunity to the disease.Should all citizens be tested? Or only those who have had ARVI and influenza?

  – These test systems are more complex and capricious than PCR tests. If so far there are complaints even about PCR testing, then debugging and developing good antibody tests will take months. And such a system will not be cheap. Of course, universal testing would help to compile a complete picture of the epidemic, but even testing some large groups, for example, medical workers who have recovered, patients with suspected coronavirus, would be a huge step forward.

  – What is the mechanism of work of test systems for antibodies to coronavirus?

  – In the laboratory, the viral protein of the virion envelope is artificially produced. Fix it on the carrier, add the subject’s blood serum. If there are antibodies in the serum, then they “stick” to the protein, and it itself is already adhered to the surface. If you thoroughly wash and then “paint” with a substance that will bind to antibodies, you can quantify by staining how many such antibodies a patient has.If they are not there, then the answer will be “zero”. I repeat, the system is capricious, it requires training and control, but the technology itself is quite standard.

  – An antibody test is also needed to find out whether herd immunity has developed in the country. And how will scientists determine whether it has worked out or not? And in what time frame is this immunity developed?

  – The antibody test does not allow you to determine whether antibodies are neutralizing the virus, that is, protective. It may be that they bind the virus, but still do not prevent it from entering the cell.Therefore, at some stage, a test with the coronavirus itself must be performed. To do this, they infect a sensitive cell culture and monitor how the addition of serum, say, from a person who has been ill, affects the infectivity of cells. This test requires special conditions and precautions, as it is a live, highly infectious virus. That is why, during a mass epidemic, it is not realistic to check all sera. But if, after checking twenty-five sera, it turns out that there are definitely neutralizing antibodies in twenty, and there are four more, but there are few of them, then for the purposes of practical medicine it will be possible to assume that protective antibodies to this virus are formed with a high probability, and further just focus on the results of the antibody test.

  In a classic viral infection, antibodies are formed in about a week or two. How long they will live in us is an experimental question, since many factors can affect this.