Sepsis Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is sepsis?
Sepsis happens when the body's defences against an infection go into overdrive. Instead of fighting the germs in one place, the immune reaction spreads through the bloodstream and begins to harm healthy tissue. Blood vessels widen and leak, blood pressure falls, and organs such as the kidneys, lungs, liver and brain receive less oxygen than they need. When blood pressure stays low despite fluids, doctors call it septic shock.
Almost any infection can lead to sepsis: a chest infection, a urine or kidney infection, an infected wound, or an infection inside the abdomen. Sepsis treatment in Sharjah at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah takes place in the intensive care unit, where the team can watch every organ closely and act on changes within minutes.
Who needs it
Your relative may be moved to intensive care for sepsis from the emergency department, from a ward, or after surgery. The usual reasons are blood pressure that stays low, fast or laboured breathing, confusion, kidneys producing very little urine, or blood tests showing that organs are under strain.
Some people are more vulnerable: older adults, babies, people with diabetes, kidney or liver disease, people having cancer treatment, and anyone recovering from recent surgery or a serious illness. In the UAE, where diabetes is common, a foot wound or urine infection in a person with diabetes deserves particular attention.
Where a fever or infection is first assessed, that happens through our fever and infection emergency service, the front door that recognises sepsis early.
Warning signs at home need emergency care now. If someone has a very high or very low temperature with shivering, new confusion or slurred speech, very fast breathing, mottled, pale or bluish skin, has passed no urine all day, or says they feel as if they might die, call the emergency services or go straight to the nearest emergency department.
What happens
Sepsis care rests on a few steps that happen together rather than one after another.
- Fighting the infection. Blood, urine and other samples are taken to identify the germ, and antibiotics given through a drip start early, often before results return. Once the germ is known, the team may switch to a more targeted medicine.
- Fluids and blood pressure. Fluids through a drip help refill the circulation. If blood pressure stays low, medicines that tighten blood vessels are given through a central line by precise infusion pumps, and an arterial line measures blood pressure beat by beat.
- Finding the source. Scans, X-rays and blood tests look for where the infection began. An abscess may be drained, an infected line removed, or an operation arranged with the surgical team to clean an infected area.
- Supporting organs. A ventilator can take over breathing while the lungs recover. If the kidneys struggle, their support is planned with the nephrology team, or by transfer to a hospital that provides the kidney treatment needed.
The team reassesses your relative many times a day, adjusting fluids, medicines and support as the picture changes. More about organ support is on the Critical Care and ICU page.
Preparing for it
Families often feel helpless while doctors work, yet there are useful things you can do.
- Share the story of the illness. When did symptoms start? Any recent surgery, hospital stay, travel, wound, or antibiotics already taken? These details help the team find the source.
- Bring a list of medicines, including those for diabetes, blood thinners, steroids and any treatment that lowers immunity.
- Choose one family contact to receive updates and share them with others, including relatives abroad who may be following news from another time zone.
- Tell the team about your relative's wishes, any advance decisions they have spoken about, and religious or cultural needs you would like respected.
- Write your questions down so each conversation with the doctor covers what matters most to you.
Visiting arrangements are explained by the unit when your relative is admitted.
Afterwards
As the infection comes under control, blood pressure support is gradually reduced, breathing support is weaned, and the kidneys usually begin to recover. When organs are stable, your relative moves to a ward and later home, often with a course of antibiotics to finish.
Recovery from sepsis takes time. Weakness, poor appetite, broken sleep, low mood and trouble concentrating are common for weeks or months. Nutrition is planned by the ICU team, with dietitian and physiotherapy input arranged by referral where helpful.
A person who has had sepsis is at higher risk of another infection in the following months. Contact your doctor or the hospital on 06 599 7777 promptly for any new fever, a wound that looks red or hot, or burning when passing urine, and go to an emergency department at once if the warning signs above return.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover sepsis treatment and intensive care. Because ICU stays are unplanned, insurers usually need prompt notification and continuing approval as care goes on, and some plans set limits. The insurance office at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can guide your family through these steps on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an infection and sepsis?
An infection is germs growing in one part of the body, while sepsis is the body's own reaction to that infection spreading and damaging organs such as the kidneys, lungs or brain. Sepsis is a medical emergency that needs treatment in hospital, often in intensive care.
What are the risks of sepsis and its treatment?
Sepsis is serious and some people die from it even with prompt, full treatment, which is why doctors speak openly with families about how their relative is responding. Treatment itself carries risks, including side effects of antibiotics, fluid build-up, complications from lines and tubes, and further infections picked up during a long stay. The team weighs these risks against benefits every day.
Is sepsis contagious?
Sepsis itself is not passed from person to person, although the infection that caused it sometimes can be. Handwashing and following the unit's hygiene instructions protect both your relative and other patients.
How long does sepsis treatment take in intensive care?
The length of an ICU stay for sepsis depends on how quickly the infection is controlled and how the organs respond, so it varies widely from person to person. Ask the doctor what progress would look like over the next day or two rather than for a fixed date.
Why is my relative still so tired weeks after leaving hospital?
Deep tiredness, weakness, poor sleep, low mood, anxiety and trouble with memory or concentration are common after sepsis and are sometimes called post-sepsis syndrome. These usually ease gradually over weeks or months, and they are worth raising with your doctor at follow-up so support can be arranged.
Can sepsis happen again?
People who have had sepsis are more likely to have another serious infection in the months that follow. Seek medical help early for any new fever or sign of infection, and mention the previous sepsis to every doctor you see.
What if my relative needs a treatment the hospital does not provide?
If your relative needs a treatment that is not available on site, such as certain forms of kidney support, the ICU team arranges it with the relevant specialist or organises a safe transfer to a hospital that provides it. The family is kept informed at every step.
Does insurance cover sepsis treatment in the UAE?
Most UAE insurance plans cover sepsis treatment and intensive care, though insurers usually require prompt notification and ongoing approval during the stay. The Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah insurance office can help your family on 06 599 7777.
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