Reprinted from the ACJ - November, 2003
This is Dave Brown's 90th article in the Health Watch series, which now spans more than a decade of writing for the Automotive Cooling Journal.
The screwdriver slips off the head of the screw. Fortunately it doesn`t scratch the fender`s paint. Unfortunately, it was the palm of your hand that prevented the paint nick. Now you have a stab wound. You go wash it out, splash on some hydrogen peroxide, slap on a band aid and go back to work. Case closed; maybe, maybe not. That chest cold seems to just get worse. The doctor reports it is not a chest cold but a respiratory infection, maybe pneumonia. He gives you some antibiotic and cleans out your wallet. Case closed; maybe, maybe not. Your stomach has been anti-Mexican food for awhile now. Enough is enough; Cinco de Mayo is coming up. The doctor tells you it`s a small ulcer and prescribes something. He tells you to start with guacamole and work your way to jalapenos. Case closed`
Any time that the outside world gets under your skin, it`s frustrating. Slow traffic, poor service, it can set your blod to boiling. Any time an actual `bit` of the outside world gets under your skin it can be a lot more than frustrating. If that `bit` is one of several types of bacteria the results can be blood poisoning. In our modern world, blood poisoning, or Septicemia, as medical types call it, seems a distant worry at best. But with HIV, West Nile, and mosquito borne meningitis cases increasing slightly in recent years we should know at least a `bit` about it. Septicemia, also known as Bacteremia, results from the unabated reproduction of bacteria in our blood streams. The bacteria are introduced through a cut, lesion, sore or a mutual friend within the lungs, stomach or skin. As the bug populates our blood stream, our bodies respond with fever and chills. We may think we have a cold. Further progression yields a rapid heartbeat, pale skin, and difficult shallow breathing. We begin to feel very sick. Maybe it`s a real bad cold. Maybe, maybe not. If left unchecked the disease will lower blood pressure, lower bdy temperature (hypothermia), and small dark `freckles` or bruises will begin to appear on the skin. No maybes about it; this isn`t a cold. I remember from the old cowboy movies that the next step progresses to the darkening of an entire limb. This is followed by some small town drunk of a doctor sawing off the said limb while the cowboy bit on a bullet. I`m sure that those of you paying attention just thought "Biting a bullet! That will cause lead poisoning!" Perhaps, but let`s not wander off the subject any more than I usually do` too late.
So, now we know it isn`t a cold and the movie is over. Time to see the doctor. In reality if you do recognize these symptoms it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention. The fatality rate for blood poisoning cases approaches 20%. If, indeed the diagnosis is septicemia, hospitalization will most likely be required; often intensive care, due to the rapid progression of the infection. Heavy duty antibiotics will be administered, usually intravenouly (IV). A blood sample will be cultured to determine which `bit` of bacteria is the culprit. Then specific antibiotics will be prescribed along with other fluids and drugs to maintain; blood pressure, oxygen uptake and the pharmaceutical company`s stock price. If caught soon enough a full recovery can be expected. But damage to your spleen, liver or kidneys is possible and thought to be a good deal considering the mortality rate. Damage to your health insurance premium is guaranteed.
Like breaking a window with a sponge, the chances of contracting Septicemia are very small; but if it happens there is no `going back`. In summary, all of the behaviors regarding the cut, lung infection and ulcer described in the first paragraph were appropriate; so don`t let this `bit` of information cause a lot of alarm. Simply keep it in mind so that you can recognize the symptoms early and avoid the maybe, maybe not question.
The above article was written by David M. Bron, Chief
Engineer of Johnson Manufacturing Company, Inc. and is published by
JOHNSON with the expressed approval of the National Automotive Radiator
Service Association and the Automotive Cooling Journal. Other reproduction
or distribution of this information is forbidden without the written
consent of JOHNSON and NARSA/ACJ. All rights reserved.
JOHNSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
114 Lost Grove
Road / PO Box 96 / Princeton, Iowa 52768-0096
Phone 563-289-5123 or
Fax 563-289-3825