Dental sepsis or
When an infection occurs, bacteria can move out of the tooth to the bone or tissue below, forming a dental abscess. A dental infection can lead to sepsis. Sepsis, which was often called blood poisoning, is the body's life-threatening response to infection.
While it takes a long time for a tooth infection to become fatal, it's possible for a tooth infection to develop into sepsis if left untreated. Typically, this process takes a few months. And even though it may feel like your pain subsides when the abscess bursts, don't be fooled.
A persistently high fever, dizziness, lightheadedness, a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion, and digestive problems are potential signs of sepsis and should be treated as a medical emergency.
Sepsis following a bacterial infection from a dental condition or treatment is rare.
Sepsis can be divided into three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.
Not all infections trigger sepsis, but sepsis is always triggered by an infection and this infection can be anywhere, including in the mouth. An untreated dental infection can cause sepsis.
What causes sepsis? Most sepsis is caused by bacterial infections, but it can also be caused by viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza; fungal infections; or noninfectious insults, such as traumatic injury.
If the infection has spread or you have a generalized infection, you may develop other signs and symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, pain, etc. Sometimes however, you may have an infection and not know it, and not have any symptoms.
A dental infection can occur when bacteria invade the pulp of a tooth or the surrounding gum tissue. The infection can cause pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area. The infection can sometimes spread to other body parts, including the bloodstream, and lead to sepsis.
Penicillin-type antibiotics are also used to treat blood infections (sepsis), meningitis, endocarditis, and other serious infections. Brand names of amoxicillin include Moxatag and Amoxil.
If the bacterial infection from an infected tooth spreads to the blood, it can cause a medical condition known as sepsis. Sepsis is a blood infection that can occur when the immune system is weak; for example, hospital patients are susceptible to sepsis. In addition, young children and seniors are also prone to sepsis.
Sepsis can overwhelm the body. This can cause vital organs to shut down. This usually starts with the kidneys. Blood pressure can drop dangerously low.
High heart rate or weak pulse. Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold. Confusion or disorientation. Shortness of breath.
The condition can arise suddenly and progress quickly, and it's often hard to recognize. Sepsis was once commonly known as “blood poisoning.” It was almost always deadly. Today, even with early treatment, sepsis kills about 1 in 5 affected people.
To begin with, a tooth abscess does not go or die down on its own, and professional intervention is crucial to treat a dental abscess. In case a person does not treat a dental abscess in its initial stage, then the infection may last anywhere between 5 months to 12 months or even more.
Failing to practice proper oral hygiene increases the risk of infection which in turn can lead to Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. It occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection trigger inflammatory responses throughout the body.
As sepsis worsens or septic shock develops, an early sign, particularly in older people or the very young, may be confusion or decreased alertness. Blood pressure decreases, yet the skin is paradoxically warm. Later, extremities become cool and pale, with peripheral cyanosis and mottling.
However, there might be other symptoms related to sepsis based on where the infection is. Abdominal pain is one such symptom.
Clinically identified cases of septic shock are more likely to pass away within 28 days than undiagnosed cases. Within the first week of diagnosis, sepsis that progresses to severe sepsis or septic shock increases the risk of death.
Healthcare professionals should treat sepsis with antibiotics as soon as possible. Antibiotics are critical tools for treating life-threatening infections, like those that can lead to sepsis. However, as antibiotic resistance grows, infections are becoming more difficult to treat.