Sepsis: when a simple infection becomes deadly

Andrew G. Farthing, Jessie Howell, J. Kenneth Baillie, Taya Forde, Alice Garrett, Carl S. Goodyear, Jennifer Gracie, Colin Graham, Tansy C. Hammarton, Michael E. Murphy, William J. Peveler, Simon Pybus, Mohammad Saiful Islam Sajib, Gill Thomson, Melanie Jimenez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The immune system plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy body by working around the clock to recognize and respond to infection. Inflammation is part of the immune system’s protective response to an infection. The inflammatory response is incredibly powerful, so much so that it can damage the body’s cells if it is not tightly controlled. Sometimes, inflammation affects the whole body—this is called sepsis. The powerful and complex mechanisms in place to wipe out the infection can cause serious damage to healthy cells and tissues. Uncontrolled inflammation can cause irreversible damage to the body’s organs, such as the kidneys, eventually causing organs to shut down. If sepsis is not treated rapidly, it can lead to death. In this article, we describe the symptoms and diagnosis of sepsis and some of the current research being performed to better understand this dangerous process.
Original languageEnglish
Article number63968
Number of pages10
JournalFrontiers for Young Minds
Volume9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 May 2021

Keywords

  • sepsis
  • infection
  • inflammation
  • immune system
  • science communication

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