This Morning’s Dr Chris opens up about moment he almost DIED from sepsis
THIS Morning's resident doctor, Dr Chris Steele, has spoken about how he almost DIED after being struck down with sepsis and warned viewers about the symptoms.
Speaking to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes on today's show, Dr Chris spoke about how he fell ill suddenly in 2009 and was hours from death when he called an ambulance.
Dr Chris developed E.Coli which attacked his immune system and triggered blood poisoning.
Luckily a rapid response ambulance was patrolling nearby when his wife called 999 and they arrived within minutes, saving his life.
Speaking about the symptoms and how people can detect sepsis, he said: "One is shivering, this is what happened to me.
"I was fit, healthy, I woke up in the middle of the night and I was shivering.
"I tried to stop it and I couldn't, it was uncontrollable."
Speaking about rapid heartbeat as another symptom, he explained; "I wasn't aware of this, because I was going in and out of it but the next one is very important: rapid breathing.
"I couldn't get my breath, I was trying to say to my wife "999" but I couldn't get it out because my breathing was so bad.
"So I was breathing, shaking and then I was going drowsy."
Ruth and Eamonn then both said: "You're a doctor, did you know?"
Dr Chris shocked them when he said: "No, my brain had gone.
"I wasn't thinking, you get drowsiness and confusion so it's quite rapid onset and that's what sepsis can do.
"So I called 999, got to the hospital, assessed within an hour, given antibiotics and I was home four days later."
Ruth then asked how he got it as it is usually linked to wounds or a complication from surgery.
He explained: "They take your blood and they culture that to see what bugs grow from your blood and mine was E.Coli.
"I had no infections, no symptoms at all, was fit and healthy and E.Coli lives in your colon and it got through the intestinal wall into my blood stream.
"You can get it through a scratch, there was a lady last year who died after getting a scratch while gardening so it is vital to know the symptoms".
What is septicaemia?
Septicaemia, also known as sepsis, is a rare but serious complication of an infection that can quickly lead to multiple organ failure and death.
The blood poisoning occurs when large amounts of bacteria enter the bloodstream.
Bacterial meningitis can lead to septicaemia.
Sepsis can also be caused by viral or fungal infections, although bacterial infections are by far the most common cause.
Symptoms in children under 5:
- your child may look mottled, bluish or pale
- is very lethargic and difficult to wake
- feels abnormally cold to touch
- is breathing very fast or having difficulty breathing
- has a rash that does not fade when you press on it
- is fitting or convulsing
- has a high temperature
- refusing to eat or drink
- has not had a wee for over 12 hours
Symptoms in older children and adults:
- a high temperature
- chills and shivering
- fast heartbeat
- fast breathing
- feeling dizzy or faint
- confusion and disorientation
- diarrhoea
- nausea and vomiting
- slurred speech
- severe muscle pain
- breathlessness
- not urinating for a day
- cold, clammy and pale skin
- loss of consciousness
If any of these symptoms develop you should seek medical advice straight away.
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