The CDC is launching a major public awareness campaign on sepsis, with first steps aimed at teaching people to seek treatment right away when someone begins to show symptoms of the condition, according to The New York Times.
Initial symptoms can include chills or fever; extreme pain or discomfort; clammy or sweaty skin; confusion and disorientation; shortness of breath; and high heart rate, according to the report.
The campaign has developed education fact sheets and encourages people to be vocal about testing for sepsis with healthcare providers who might overlook it as a diagnosis, according to the report. It suggests people ask physicians, "Could it be sepsis?" or say, "I'm worried about sepsis," according to the report.
"We want people to be able to recognize sepsis just like they recognize a heart attack or stroke, and know they shouldn't wait until Thursday when the doctor can see them, but go to the emergency room right away," Thomas Heymann, executive director of Sepsis Alliance, told The New York Times.
Read more about sepsis and see the full report here.