Sepsis is not something you "catch" like a contagious illness. It is a life- threatening condition that happens when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection anywhere in the body, such as the lungs, urinary tract, skin, or other sites. This overreaction causes damage to the body's own tissues and organs.

Sepsis develops as a severe response to an infection, often bacterial but can be viral, fungal, or parasitic. It can arise from infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin infections, open wounds, or even insect bites that become infected. The infection triggers an extreme immune response leading to symptoms like rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, abnormal body temperature, confusion, shivering, and extreme fatigue.

In summary:

• You don't catch sepsis from another person.
• Sepsis occurs when an existing infection triggers a harmful immune response.
• Infections leading to sepsis can come from many sources, including respiratory infections, wounds, insect bites, or contaminated food and water.

If infection symptoms worsen with signs of sepsis, immediate medical care is crucial.