Many coronavirus patients worldwide have died of sepsis — when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive.
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the body’s immune system overreacting in response to an infection.
This overactive, toxic response can lead to tissue damage, multiple organ failure and death.
Viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites — sepsis can be triggered by a variety of pathogens. The causes of sepsis are usually pneumonia, wound infections, urinary tract infections or infections in the abdominal cavity.
In addition to the known seasonal influenza viruses, other viruses that are highly infectious, such as coronaviruses, Ebola and yellow fever viruses, dengue, swine flu or bird flu viruses can also cause sepsis.
