<P> Sepsis is a life - threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs . Common signs and symptoms include fever, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and confusion . There also may be symptoms related to a specific infection, such as a cough with pneumonia, or painful urination with a kidney infection . In the very young, old, and people with a weakened immune system, there may be no symptoms of a specific infection and the body temperature may be low or normal, rather than high . Severe sepsis is sepsis causing poor organ function or insufficient blood flow . Insufficient blood flow may be evident by low blood pressure, high blood lactate, or low urine output . Septic shock is low blood pressure due to sepsis that does not improve after reasonable amounts of intravenous fluids are given . </P> <P> Sepsis is caused by an immune response triggered by an infection . Most commonly, the infection is bacterial, but it may also be from fungi, viruses, or parasites . Common locations for the primary infection include lungs, brain, urinary tract, skin, and abdominal organs . Risk factors include young or old age, a weakened immune system from conditions such as cancer or diabetes, major trauma, or burns . An older method of diagnosis was based on meeting at least two systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria due to a presumed infection . In 2016, SIRS was replaced with qSOFA which is two of the following three: increased breathing rate, change in level of consciousness, and low blood pressure . Blood cultures are recommended preferably before antibiotics are started, however, infection of the blood is not required for the diagnosis . Medical imaging should be used to look for the possible location of infection . Other potential causes of similar signs and symptoms include anaphylaxis, adrenal insufficiency, low blood volume, heart failure, and pulmonary embolism, among others . </P> <P> Sepsis usually is treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics . Typically, antibiotics are given as soon as possible . Often, ongoing care is performed in an intensive care unit . If fluid replacement is not enough to maintain blood pressure, medications that raise blood pressure may be used . Mechanical ventilation and dialysis may be needed to support the function of the lungs and kidneys, respectively . To guide treatment, a central venous catheter and an arterial catheter may be placed for access to the bloodstream . Other measurements such as cardiac output and superior vena cava oxygen saturation may be used . People with sepsis need preventive measures for deep vein thrombosis, stress ulcers and pressure ulcers, unless other conditions prevent such interventions . Some might benefit from tight control of blood sugar levels with insulin . The use of corticosteroids is controversial . Activated drotrecogin alfa, originally marketed for severe sepsis, has not been found to be helpful, and was withdrawn from sale in 2011 . </P> <P> Disease severity partly determines the outcome . The risk of death from sepsis is as high as 30%, from severe sepsis as high as 50%, and from septic shock as high as 80% . The number of cases worldwide is unknown as there is little data from the developing world . Estimates suggest sepsis affects millions of people a year . In the developed world approximately 0.2 to 3 people per 1000 are affected by sepsis yearly, resulting in about a million cases per year in the United States . Rates of disease have been increasing . Sepsis is more common among males than females . The medical condition has been described since the time of Hippocrates . Septicemia and blood poisoning are terms that referred to the microorganisms or their toxins in the blood and are no longer commonly used . </P>

In which of the following infection drop in platelet count