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This is very depressing news, and a bit frightening. The Brazilian model, Mariana Bridi da Costa, died early this morning, after a hard battle with blood poisoning, otherwise known as septicemia. She was 20 years old.
She had originally gone to the doctor complaining of pain and was diagnosed with an urinary tract infection. She later went to hospital in severe pain and a bacterial infection had led to septicemia. Septicemia had then stopped oxygen from reaching her entire body which caused the amputation of her hands and feet, as well as the loss of her kidneys and much of her stomach.
What exactly is septicemia?
It's a bacterial infection (that is often in response to a different infection) of the blood that progresses rapidly, if not treated immediately. It can happen as a secondary condition to something else (appendicitis,post-surgery, meningitis or drug dependence to name a few).
Immediate symptoms include pin marks on the skin that grow to look like bruises, fever, skin rashes, lack of appetite, a feeling that one may die (impending doom), confusion and distress, cold hands and feet and previous but recent surgery or other infection .
It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and if not caught early, the death rate of sufferers can be 50%.
As in Miss Brindi da Costa's case, the advancement of the condition is very rapid. A month ago she was working hard at her modeling assignments and feeling well. What should have been a simple urinary tract infection then snowballed into a deadly condition. And due to the speed of septicemia, her amputations became necessary. Septicemia can quickly cause septic shock, and a lack of oxygen to organs, since the main function of blood is to carry oxygen and nutrients throughout our body to keep us alive.
Could Mariana Bridi da Costa's death be prevented? It's difficult to say and unknown at this time. She did seek medical help soon after feeling ill - but septicemia is so rapid in it's spread that by the time it's discovered, it is sometimes too late.
If anyone is feeling unwell, and has any of the symptoms of septicemia listed above, they should seek medical attention immediately.
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Have you heard of septicemia (formerly known as blood poisoning)? Do you have thoughts about this story?
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Add a Comment6 Comments
I was having my 4th kidney stone 30 minutes after the first pain I was in the emergency room got a shot and felt better.This was on a Sunday.July 16th.I worked on July 17th by 5pm I started feeling sick then the severe pain returned finally at 330 am I went back to the emergency room with fever severe shaking vomiting they started antibiotics was sent to surgery for a stent sepsis had taken over my body.I was put in intensive care for 4 days nearly died.Today it's August 17 a month later still have the stent and stone plus another infection but I'm home waiting on surgery.This was a horrific experience not sure of long term damage.Please if you read this if you have any kind of infection do not wait go to your dr or the er especially if you have a fever and vomiting.Every second is crucial.Your life could depend on it.
August 16, 2017 - 10:48pmThis Comment
Definition: Septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) and is often associated with severe disease. Source: MediLinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Symptoms:
Ms. da Costa's story is indeed very tragic.
January 26, 2009 - 9:29pmThis Comment
Hey, Susan.
What a sad turn of events for her, and what a scary thing sepsis is.
I have a friend who recently had appendicitis, but didn't know that's what it was. She'd gone to the doctor for some pain, nausea and vomiting she was experiencing, but they never related it to her appendix. She was sent home with anti-nausea medicine, which helped somewhat, so she believed their diagnosis of a stomach flu.
Her appendix did burst, her pain actually went away and she started feeling better. Because of this, it was another few days before she started feeling badly again and returned to the doctor, and by the time they did (what was by then an emergency) appendectomy, she had the beginnings of sepsis in her system. She was very ill for several days, and they pumped massive doses of antibiotics through her system. She is fine now and feels incredibly blessed to have gotten through it as she did.
She doesn't know of much she'd have done differently. She called, she went to the doctor, was diagnosed and treated, and then did indeed start feeling some better. There wasn't much of an alarm bell for her. But she did go back when she was going downhill again, and they caught the problem in time. It just goes to show that we have to stay in touch with our bodies and -- when we aren't feeling right -- trust our instincts.
January 26, 2009 - 10:27amThis Comment
This is so incredibly sad. And scary too -- I had no idea that a urinary tract infection could end up with such a tragic result. I know that these infections can develop quickly, so this is good information to know, just to be aware -- thanks for sharing, Susan!
January 25, 2009 - 11:17pmThis Comment
Hi Susan,
This is such a tragic and very sad story.
I was unaware of septicemia and the symptoms to watch out for.
We as women need to be aware of conditions like this. I'm sure most of us would never think we could get septicemia from a urinary tract infection.
My heart goes out to Ms. Costa's entire family. She was just beginning her life.
With great sadness,
Michelle
January 24, 2009 - 10:43pmThis Comment
Thanks for the information Susan. It is a tragedy about Ms. Costa.
January 24, 2009 - 11:00amThis Comment