Stealth Disease Likely To Blame For 20% Of Worldwide Deaths. [View all]

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