Sepsis: when a simple infection becomes deadly

Farthing, A. G. et al. (2021) Sepsis: when a simple infection becomes deadly. Frontiers for Young Minds, 9, 639681. (doi: 10.3389/frym.2021.639681)

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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Jimenez, Dr Melanie and Murphy, Dr Michael and Hammarton, Dr Tansy and Forde, Dr Taya and Howell, Jessie and Farthing, Andrew and Peveler, Dr William and Gracie, Dr Jennifer and Garrett, Miss Alice and Sajib, Mohammad Saiful Islam and Goodyear, Professor Carl
• Authors: Farthing, A. G., Howell, J., Baillie, J. K., Forde, T., Garrett, A., Goodyear, C. S., Gracie, J., Graham, C., Hammarton, T. C., Murphy, M. E., Peveler, W. J., Pybus, S., Sajib, M. S. I., Thomson, G., and Jimenez, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Research Centre: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
• Journal Name: Frontiers for Young Minds
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• ISSN: 2296-6846
• ISSN (Online): 2296-6846
• Published Online: 21 May 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Farthing, Howell, Baillie, Forde, Garrett, Goodyear, Gracie, Graham, Hammarton, Murphy, Peveler, Pybus, Sajib, Thomson and Jimenez
• First Published: First published in Frontiers for Young Minds 9:639681
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence