Clinical Manifestations of Bacteremia
Disease description:
I've had a fever and chest pain for the past few days. After going to the hospital for an examination, they told me it's bacteremia. I've never heard of this condition before. What are the clinical manifestations of bacteremia?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Bacteremia refers to a condition in which bacteria are transiently or persistently present in the bloodstream. It is not an independent disease, but rather a stage that various infectious diseases may develop into. The clinical manifestations of bacteremia mainly include the following aspects:
1. Fever or hypothermia: Patients may experience sudden high fever, with body temperature reaching 40°C to 41°C, or develop hypothermia. The onset is acute, the illness severe, and progression rapid.
2. General symptoms: Patients often experience headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, impaired consciousness such as drowsiness or coma may occur.
3. Cardiovascular symptoms: Bacteremia may cause tachycardia, weak and rapid pulse, tachypnea or difficulty breathing, and even shock.
4. Organ enlargement and bleeding: Patients may present with hepatosplenomegaly; severe cases may develop jaundice and subcutaneous hemorrhagic spots.
5. Other symptoms: Bacteremia can also cause various other symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and chills. These symptoms may vary depending on the specific site of infection and the causative bacterial species.
