Does sepsis cause skin itching?
Disease description:
My neighbor has sepsis and has recently been experiencing persistent skin itching, occasionally accompanied by mild pain. Can sepsis cause skin itching?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xiaoyan
Whether sepsis can cause skin itching cannot be generalized. Generally, patients with sepsis may not exhibit obvious symptoms of skin itching, as it is primarily a systemic infectious disease caused by pathogens such as bacteria and fungi entering the bloodstream, multiplying, and producing toxins. However, in specific cases such as infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacilli, or fungi, patients with sepsis may experience skin itching. These situations are usually due to systemic immune responses triggered by toxins and inflammatory factors produced by the pathogens, leading to increased eosinophils in the blood, which in turn can cause skin itching.
