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Septic shock - Symptom

Alternative Names

Bacteremic shock; Endotoxic shock; Septicemic shock; Warm shock

Symptoms:

Septic shock can affect any part of the body, including the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and intestines. Symptoms may include:

Cool, pale extremities
High or very low temperature, chills
Lightheadedness
Low blood pressure, especially when standing
Low urine output
Palpitations
Rapid heart rate
Restlessness, agitation, lethargy, or confusion
Shortness of breath

Signs and tests:

Blood tests may be done to check for infection, low blood oxygen level, disturbances in the body's acid-base balance, or poor organ function or organ failure.

A chest x-ray may show pneumonia or pulmonary edema.

Reviewed last on: 10/18/2008
Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP. Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Vincent J, Septic Shock. In: Fink MP, Abraham E, Vincent J, Kochanek PM, eds. Textbook of Critical Care. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2005: chap 147.

Jones AE, Kline JA. Shock. In: Marx, JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006: chap 4.

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