Rule Out Sepsis in Infection Involving Whole Body
Q: My cousin is 26 year old male, and is having few red nodules in armpits with fever. They are tender to touch and is having abdominal cramps and loose stools. Meanwhile, his cholesterol levels are high and USG suggested swelling in liver and kidneys? What could be the appropriate diagnosis? He also lost much weight during these 2 months?
– By Maha
Reply:
Your cousins seems to have a systemic inflammatory response to some infection.
This means he has some infection, which has spread over the whole body. Now, his body is reacting to it by giving symptoms like fever, swollen nodes in armpit, swollen liver etc.
This may happen in many infective states like:
- TB (tuberculosis)
- Bacterial hepatitis
- Any other infection leading to septicemia
He needs to go to the hospital at the earliest and get himself examined. An exact diagnosis is possible only after physical examination and blood tests. Only then, treatment may be possible.
He may require hospitalization. He may require antibiotics via intravenous route in the initial period of treatment.
Supportive treatment and a good diet would be required.
Such situations need to be attended with urgency. If not, they may complicate in any one of the following ways.
Complications of Septicemia
- Shock
- Endocarditis- The infection may affect the heart and its functioning
- Nephritis- Kidney function may get impaired
- Collection of pus (abscesses) at various places in the body
Take Care,
Buddy M.D.
