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Health: The Life-Threatening Condition That Can Develop Out Of Almost Any Infection

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- More than a million Americans each year are diagnosed with a life-threatening condition known as sepsis, which can develop out of almost any kind of infection, including the flu.

Maya Cargile is a healthy 8th grader, but four years ago she almost died after a battle with the flu lead to sepsis.

"Anything that could possibly be painful or could be wrong, was wrong."

Maya's mother, Lisa, took her to the hospital after she had a 104 fever and became lethargic.

"She wasn't breathing on her own, her blood pressure dropped, and that was when she had to be put on life support. You know, she'd never been that sick"

Sepsis can develop when the body releases chemicals into the bloodstream to fight an infection. Those chemicals can cause inflammation, damaging organs.

Immediate treatment with IV fluids and antibiotics is critical, so recognizing the symptoms could be life-saving.

Doctor Steve Peters, of the Mayo Clinic, says while it's rare for the flu to lead to sepsis, there could be more cases this season.

"When the flu is more severe or when it's not covered by that seasonal strain of vaccine, than the chance it could occur is more likely."

Dr. Peters says "Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, dizziness or light-headedness" are all symptoms.

Maya didn't get a flu vaccine the year she got sepsis.

Lisa says, "I think the worst part was knowing that had she gotten the flu shot, she maybe wouldn't have gotten sick or she would have not had the kind of reaction that she did."

The Cargile family now gets vaccinated every year. Doctors say while anyone can develop sepsis, the elderly and those on immune-suppressing drugs, like chemotherapy, are at a higher risk.

 

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