Did you know the skin is the largest organ in your body? And it does more than protect you from the environment; your skin can let you know if there’s something serious going on in your body.
Checking there’s nothing out of the ordinary in your body should be common practice. After all, strange moles, rashes, bruising and spots can be symptoms of severe conditions. Still, there’s one symptom you want to look out for the most. Here’s what you need to know about the red line in your skin caused by sepsis infections.
What is Sepsis?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sepsis is the most extreme reaction to infections, and any type of infection can lead to it. Most infections start with manageable bacteria in your lungs, intestines, skin or urinary tract. More often than not, you can treat them with mild antibiotics.
If an infection grows too much and spreads, then you’ve got sepsis, and it could cause organ failure and even death! So, how do you know if your infection has become life-threatening? You might have a high fever, low blood pressure, shortness of breath and general discomfort, to mention a few symptoms.
What does your skin have to do with sepsis?
Well, one of the most noticeable and unique symptoms of sepsis is a red mark on your skin. These red lines usually follow veins and are the infection spreading through your lymph nodes. If you spot them, your infection is far too advanced for regular antibiotics, so talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Although sepsis is not all that common, as modern antibiotics keep most infections at bay pretty easily, that’s not always the case. If the infection has already caused redness on your skin and inflamed lymph nodes, you’ll need a stronger prescription.
Other Symptoms of Strong Infections
No, don’t overlook those red lines on your skin. Acting fast might save your life! Still, other symptoms could tell you that your mild infection has grown to dangerous levels.
Fever, feeling tired and fatigued, swollen neck or armpits, headaches, nausea and vomiting are signs of internal infections. As for cuts and skin injuries, you’ll notice redness, swelling, intense pain, pus and delayed healing. These are not good signs, so don’t overlook infections and their symptoms, especially those red lines on your skin. Inspect your body often, and you’ll be all right.
Infections are pretty dangerous!
Our bodies are equipped to deal with all types of harmful microorganisms. In fact, we handle and dispose of millions of them every day. If the bacteria are strong enough and well organized, then your body can be overrun within days! That’s when you must act. After all, your doctor knows just how to deal with these situations, so you’re not alone.
Take care of yourself, don’t ignore any symptoms, and enjoy a healthy, active life. You can’t avoid infections, but you can certainly care for all your health problems before they become more serious.
