Could You Have Sepsis? Take an Online Quiz to Check Symptoms

Could You Have Sepsis? Understanding the Signs

Sepsis is a serious medical condition that requires emergency medical treatment. Being able to recognize early sepsis symptoms and risk factors could potentially save your life or the life of someone you care about.

As sepsis education and awareness have expanded over the years, more quizzes and tools have emerged to assist people in assessing if their symptoms may indicate sepsis. While these cannot diagnose sepsis, they provide general guidance on warning signs and whether to seek prompt medical care.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis occurs when the body overreacts to a bacterial infection, triggering widespread inflammation that damages tissues and vital organs. Chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight an infection cause inflammation that injures its own body rather than just the infection.

If left untreated, sepsis can lead to septic shock, multiple organ failure, and even death. However, fast diagnosis and treatment with IV fluids and antibiotics greatly improves chances for survival and recovery.

Am I at Risk for Sepsis?

Certain factors can increase susceptibility for developing sepsis after an infection, including:

• Being over age 65
• Having chronic medical conditions like diabetes, lung disease, cancer, kidney disease, and liver disease
• History of hospitalization or recent surgery/medical procedures
• Weakened immune system - medication, illness, bone marrow/organ transplant

Younger, healthier people can also get sepsis but higher risk individuals need to be especially aware of potential symptoms.

Could My Symptoms Mean Sepsis?

Early signs and symptoms that may potentially indicate sepsis include:

• High heart rate or rapid breathing
• Fever above 101F (38C) or very low body temperature
• Confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness
• Clammy, sweaty skin
• Extreme shivering, muscle pain, discomfort

Additional symptoms can emerge as sepsis worsens, such as low urine output, intense weakness/fatigue, bleeding abnormalities, changes in mental status, breathing problems, abnormal heart functions, and loss of consciousness.

When to Seek Emergency Care

If you notice a combination of symptoms matching sepsis criteria, especially alongside signs of a possible infection like cough/flu symptoms, urinary issues, or redness/swelling on skin, seek emergency medical care immediately. Calling 911 to report your symptoms is recommended.

Rapid diagnosis and treatment, ideally within 1 hour of first suspicious symptoms, makes the biggest difference in sepsis mortality rates. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own.

Assessing Your Risk with an Online Sepsis Quiz

If you have concerns about potential sepsis or arent sure if your symptoms seem serious enough to call emergency services, taking an online sepsis quiz can help provide guidance.

What Does a Sepsis Quiz Include?

Reputable online sepsis quizzes will take you through a list of questions about current symptoms, health history/risk factors, and timing of symptom onset. Some key aspects may cover:

• Vital sign measurements - blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen levels, temperature
• Presence of symptoms like shivering, pain, breathing issues, impairment
• Severity rating of symptoms - scale of mild to most severe
• Current medical issues or medications impacting infection risk or immune response
• Recent infections, illness, injuries or hospital visits

The quiz will analyze your responses to provide general feedback about sepsis likelihood and whether your symptoms seem to indicate sepsis risk according to sepsis criteria.

Are Sepsis Quizzes Accurate?

It's important to note that online sepsis quizzes are NOT an official medical diagnostic test. They cannot confirm or rule out sepsis, but only provide a suggestion based on your current reported symptoms.

Any recommendation to seek emergency care should be followed up quickly, even if you feel somewhat better by the time you take the quiz. Call 911 or have someone drive you to the ER right away.

What Should I Do After the Sepsis Quiz?

Use any recommendation to seek emergency care from a reputable sepsis quiz as a final indication to get medical help without delay. Report your symptoms, quiz results and concerns about sepsis to the ER triage staff.

Be prepared to answer questions, give a detailed history of symptom progression, and provide info on medical history. Sepsis testing and treatment decisions will be managed by the ER doctor. Follow all discharge instructions carefully if sepsis is ruled out.

Getting an Accurate Sepsis Diagnosis

While an online sepsis quiz offers initial guidance, diagnosing sepsis requires specialized medical testing managed by emergency doctors or infectious disease specialists. Some key aspects of the evaluation process include:

Physical Exam

Doctors will check vital signs, breathing, neurological function, skin condition, etc. Significant deviations can signal sepsis risk.

Lab Tests

Bloodwork and other lab tests check for elevated white blood cell count, kidney/liver abnormalities indicating infection and systemic issues.

Imaging Scans

Scans like x-rays, CT, ultrasound spot pneumonia or abscesses that could be infection sources.

Cultures

Growing bacteria from blood samples or other sites identifies the type of infection to select targeted antibiotics.

Sepsis Biomarkers

Measuring biomarker levels like procalcitonin from blood can help confirm inflammatory response and sepsis specifically.

If diagnosed with sepsis in the ER, you'll be admitted to the hospital for supportive medical care and IV antibiotics. Seek emergency guidance for any suspected sepsis symptoms in the future as well.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.