I brushed off my sore throat as a hangover, but it turned into sepsis
Doctors told Elle Black if she had gone to hospital later the outcome could have been quite different.
Elle Black, a 21-year-old student at Cardiff University, initially thought her sore throat and flu-like symptoms were a hangover after a night out. However, her condition rapidly worsened and she was admitted to the hospital with sepsis, a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to an infection. Doctors stated that if she had waited any longer, the outcome could have been much worse.
Elle now urges other young people to be aware of the symptoms of sepsis and not to dismiss severe or worsening symptoms. The charity Sepsis Research emphasizes the importance of never dismissing symptoms that are severe or getting worse, as the condition often develops from infections that seem manageable. Sepsis can be life-threatening and develops very quickly.
UK Sepsis Trust reports that there are 48,000 sepsis-related deaths each year in the UK. Elle's experience demonstrates the importance of seeking medical advice if you believe a hangover might be something more serious.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
