More than half of sepsis survivors have long-term cognitive impairments [91], which are still inadequately characterized, but may include loss of verbal fluency, memory, and attention deficits [4,5,6, 91].
“We already know from previous studies that sepsis results in long-term brain dysfunction and that neuroinflammation plays a role in brain injury during the infection,” says Singer, who specializes in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.
Are there any long-term effects of sepsis? Many people who survive sepsis recover completely and their lives return to normal. However, as with some other illnesses requiring intensive medical care, some patients have long-term effects.
They concluded that septic patients have a high mortality rate after two years of hospital discharge compared to patients recovered from other diseases; the percentage of death ranged from 22% to 70%.
Sepsis-associated delirium (SAD) is a cerebral manifestation commonly occurring in patients with sepsis and is thought to occur due to a combination of neuroinflammation and disturbances in cerebral perfusion, the blood brain barrier (BBB) and neurotransmission.
Complications. As sepsis worsens, blood flow to vital organs, such as your brain, heart and kidneys, becomes impaired. Sepsis may cause abnormal blood clotting that results in small clots or burst blood vessels that damage or destroy tissues.
Life after sepsis
Many of the participants experienced a depersonalization, almost like they had become a different person in some situations, which had a negative impact on both family and other social relations. The change was due to the need for rest and tranquility.
Long term effects of sepsis
Symptoms of post-sepsis syndrome include: feeling lethargic or excessively tired.
And for all ages, the worse the sepsis, the greater the risk of developing dementia. Another study published in 2010 estimates that there may be as many as 20,000 new cases of dementia every year caused by sepsis.
On average, the recovery period from this condition takes about three to ten days, depending on the appropriate treatment response, including medication.
60 percent of hospitalizations for severe sepsis were associated with worsened cognitive and physical function among surviving older adults.
It's known that many patients die in the months and years after sepsis. But no one has known if this increased risk of death (in the 30 days to 2 years after sepsis) is because of sepsis itself, or because of the pre-existing health conditions the patient had before acquiring the complication.
SAE has long been considered a reversible syndrome; however, many patients with SAE experience long-term cognitive impairments [5]. Mild to moderate neurological symptoms, including memory changes, depression, anxiety, or cognitive disorders persist in 20% to 40% of these patients 1 year after hospital discharge [94].
This is known as Post Sepsis Syndrome (PSS) and usually lasts between 6 and 18 months, sometimes longer. Because you may look well, others (including your employer, doctor, or family) may be unaware of the problems and expect you to be better now. Don't suffer in silence.
The organs more frequently affected are kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, central nervous system, and hematologic system. This multiple organ failure is the hallmark of sepsis and determines patients' course from infection to recovery or death.
However, there might be other symptoms related to sepsis based on where the infection is. Abdominal pain is one such symptom.
Sepsis can be hard to spot. At the start you may look okay but feel really bad. Call 999 if you or someone else has any of these signs of sepsis.
In survivors, sepsis increases the risk for the development of persistent acquired weakness syndromes affecting both the respiratory muscles and the limb muscles.
As severe sepsis usually involves infection of the bloodstream, the heart is one of the first affected organs.
Septic shock is the most severe level and is diagnosed when your blood pressure drops to dangerous levels.
Bacterial infections cause most cases of sepsis. Sepsis can also be a result of other infections, including viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza, or fungal infections.
As sepsis worsens, it can trigger an abrupt change in mental status, such as disorientation or confusion. A significant decrease in urine production usually is a sign that sepsis is affecting the kidneys and other vital organs.
In some cases, and often very quickly, severe sepsis or septic shock can develop. Symptoms include: feeling dizzy or faint. confusion or disorientation.