In the United States, a woman almost died after injuring her finger during a game of bowling. An injury that led to sepsis. How can we not miss such an emergency? What are the signs to recognize even when the injury seems trivial to you? Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor, answers us.
It was a minor injury that could have cost him his life. In the United States, according to information from New York Posta young woman was treated urgently for septicemia, after a simple cut on her finger made in a bowling ball.
A quick and unexpected infection after a simple cut to the finger
The story took a tragic turn in just a few hours. After the cut made to her thumb in the bowling ball itself, the young woman, who had not taken the trouble to disinfect the wound, felt severe pain. His condition then worsened during the night, during which the victim felt very weak and thirsty. Taken to the emergency room, she learned from the doctors that she had septicemia, blood poisoning by bacteria which could be fatal. The intervention is inevitable to avoid amputation or death: by digging the wound and the thumb bone to remove the infected tissue, the surgeons manage to save the young woman.
I almost died of sepsis after bowling: Beware these warning signs https://t.co/sixPxp3AA0 pic.twitter.com/1Qjo0cVQzC
— New York Post (@nypost) September 21, 2023
Sepsis: signs to know to react in time
Beyond the story which turns into a nightmare, the adventure of this young woman reminds us here of the need to react quickly in the event of an injury, even innocuous ones, when certain signs appear.
“The challenge is to have a diagnosis quickly, so as not to delay treatment” admits Dr. Kiezek, emergency physician. “In sepsis, the first 3 hours are crucial to save the person; we then speak of “golden hours”.
“When you have an injury, an infection, whatever it is – what we call a gateway to medicine – and we begin to observe a local and general evolution, we must react quickly!” underlines our expert. What are the signs of a deteriorating general condition?
- A feeling of unease, with confusion, stomach aches, change in general condition, etc.;
- A temperature which increases (presence of fever), or which falls, below 36°;
- Tachycardia (a heart that beats fast and hard);
- Tachypnea (rapid breathing);
- A drop in blood pressure.
“These are signs that should alert you. And in this case, medical advice is necessary” emphasizes doctor.
Head to the attending physician if he is available, on the 15th or to the emergency room!