10 Sepsis Infection Symptoms
4. Cold or Warm Skin
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Therefore, it is well provided in terms of oxygen and nutrients. The complex array of blood vessels that supply blood to the skin may constrict or dilate according to our needs. When the blood vessels dilate, more blood goes into the skin, increasing its temperature. On the other hand, if the blood vessels constrict, less blood goes into the skin, making it cold to the touch.
In septic patients, the blood supply to certain organs might become compromised. If this happens, the blood vessels that go to the skin can constrict to deviate the blood into more vital organs. This causes the skin to become cold to the touch. If the sepsis is caused by a skin infection, the affected area is usually warm to the touch due to an underlying infection in the deep layers of the skin.
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