sepsis

Sepsis is a serious, life-threatening response of the body to an infection, in which the immune system becomes overactive and causes damage to the body's own organs and tissues. The condition can worsen rapidly and lead to a severe drop in blood pressure and failure of organs such as the kidneys or lungs. Sepsis can result from many types of infections, such as of the lungs, urinary tract, or a wound. People with a weakened immune system, such as from cancer or a chronic disease, have a higher risk of sepsis. The word appears on this site because sepsis can be a complication in various incurable diseases.