Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Cattledog

(6,291 posts)
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 04:55 AM Jan 2020

Stealth Disease Likely To Blame For 20% Of Worldwide Deaths.

A medical condition that often escapes public notice may be involved in 20% of deaths worldwide, according to a new study.

The disease is sepsis — sometimes called blood poisoning. It arises when the body overreacts to an infection. Blood vessels throughout the body become leaky, triggering multiple-organ failure.

It is surprisingly common in the United States: One prominent study estimates 1.7 million cases a year and 270,000 deaths. Sepsis in the U.S. can strike otherwise healthy people who get an infection that runs amok. Many other cases arise in the hospital. That occurs frequently in people who are already in poor health.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/16/796758060/stealth-disease-likely-to-blame-for-20-of-global-deaths?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&fbclid=IwAR1QVqjv3qZsYWQkcwcQ2Q9JviZ7zw-ZogzO3bliLk1TVqo9GJlCx7AjZ9s&fbclid=IwAR2jScwW4XWW0I7pxNTMqa5hbKN8aUockHFMprk6ik-5FPqtnTeFnF5r044

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Stealth Disease Likely To Blame For 20% Of Worldwide Deaths. (Original Post) Cattledog Jan 2020 OP
20% 😳 scary as hell. dewsgirl Jan 2020 #1
It got my grandmom MFM008 Jan 2020 #2
I had this in 2010 Wawannabe Jan 2020 #3
I survived it 10 years ago Warpy Jan 2020 #4

Wawannabe

(6,281 posts)
3. I had this in 2010
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 10:40 AM
Jan 2020

Bad infection and doc did not give antibiotics. I have never been so sick.
I went to urgent care and finally one doc says lets check blood levels. Had to have a high powered dose of antibiotic and it was amazing how quickly I recovered.

Warpy

(113,116 posts)
4. I survived it 10 years ago
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 02:33 PM
Jan 2020

and it wouldn't have been a bad way to go had it not been the raging thirst that alerted me to the fluid shift. It's 50% fatal even with treatment and had I not downed a liter of water and called an ambulance, I'd have died quietly within a few hours. Other than the thirst, it was only a vague feeling of "I'm coming down with something" and the need to sleep was almost as bad as the thirst.

Dying from it would have been easy. Surviving it was not, a 5 day ICU horror show.

I'm over 70 now, so if I get it again, I'm outta here.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Health»Stealth Disease Likely To...