Study Says Sepsis Now Bigger Killer Than Cancer In The World

A recent study has revealed staggering data about sepsis, a serious condition affecting the blood that could lead to death. It revealed that the disease is far more a bigger killer than cancer, with the numbers relatively way higher than cancer deaths.

As per the report of Express, the UK is one of the countries in Europe with the worst infection rates. There are reportedly 50,000 deaths in a year in the UK alone. The numbers on a worldwide scale are just as appalling.

Staggering Death Rate

Accordingly, in 2017, sepsis was linked to 11 million deaths. This number, when compared to the 9.6 million cancer deaths in 2018, shows a disparity of approximately 1.4 million.

The study published in The Lancet also revealed that the condition affects a lot of young ones – children and adolescents. Gathering the digits on sepsis, it would show that every three seconds, someone in the world dies from the disease.

The Danger

Sepsis is a form of the poisoning of the blood. This happens when the body isn’t able to respond properly to bacterial infection, and it would then attack its own organs and tissues. When the condition occurs, it is required that the patient seek medical treatment right away.

Antibiotics are needed to treat the disease. If no immediate treatment is afforded the patient, there is a high risk of his organs failing, and eventually, it could lead to death. In 2017 alone, there was a recorded 48.9 million cases, and out of this number, 11 million deaths resulted. This was data gathered in 195 countries.

The Cause Behind The Rising Stats

According to the UK Sepsis Trust, the rise in the numbers could be attributed to the better ability to record the condition. Another reason that they gave was due to antibiotic resistance. The aging population was also among the primary reasons they were looking at.

One of the primary concerns of health authorities at present is the alarming number of cases among children. More often than not, medics mistake the serious disease with a less serious condition. Some misdiagnosis included saying it’s a chest infection or any other condition.

Common symptoms of sepsis include not feeding, looking pale or blue, vomiting, cold t touch, lethargy, and not passing urine for 12 hours. When you notice any of these symptoms better, see your doctor right away.