Septic shock symptoms include fever, low blood pressure, lethargy, organ failure, oliguria, hyperventilation, and hypoperfusion. Fever is an early symptom, while organ failure and hypotension are more severe. Elderly and young patients may exhibit only hypotension and hypoperfusion, accompanied by hyperventilation.
Some of the more common septic shock symptoms include fever, low blood pressure, and lethargy, also known as prostration. Additionally, other symptoms of septic shock can include organ failure and oliguria, which is a decrease in urine output. Also symptoms are a change in consciousness, hyperventilation, and decreased blood flow to organs, also known as hypoperfusion. Different people can have different symptoms of septic shock. Indeed, in those who are very young or elderly, hypotension, hypoperfusion, and hyperventilation are often the only symptoms of septic shock exhibited.
Fever is one of the first symptoms of septic shock. A sudden rise in body temperature can indicate an infection. Many times, doctors consider temperatures of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) or higher as a cause for concern. Other early forms of septic shock can also include symptoms such as nausea, chills, vomiting and diarrhea. At this point, a doctor may choose to treat the condition aggressively because as the condition gets worse, the symptoms can get worse as well.
More severe septic shock symptoms may include signs of organ failure. For example, oliguria can be a sign that the kidneys are failing. If the kidneys don’t filter out toxins, they can build up in the body and cause problems. To measure urine output correctly, a doctor will often insert a catheter into the patient.
Hypotension and hypoperfusion are two other symptoms. A person with hypotension or low blood pressure may not be supplying enough blood to their organs. This condition can lead to organ failure. Hypoperfusion, the reduction in blood flow through organs, can also lead to organ failure. Both hypotension and hypoperfusion can be particularly destructive if the brain is not adequately supplied with blood.
Hypotension or hypoperfusion in the brain can reduce blood flow and lead to cerebral insufficiency. This condition can lead to other septic shock symptoms such as confusion, a change in alertness, or loss of consciousness. Prostration, or lethargy, can also be a sign that the brain isn’t getting enough nutrients. In elderly and very young patients, hypotension and hypoperfusion may also be accompanied by hyperventilation. Hyperventilation, or excessive breathing, can cause respiratory alkalosis, a non-life-threatening condition characterized by low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.
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