A recent medical study details how a Texan man died from septic shock after contracting a bacterial infection through a new tattoo while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.The account was published last month in the British Medical Journal Case Report.
The immune system defends the body against infections, but sometimes it’s response can be destructive, leading to a condition known as sepsis.According to U.S. government information, sepsis occurs when immune chemicals released into the bloodstream trigger widespread inflammation. This can lead to poor circulation from blood clots and leaky vessels.
This impaired blood flow can cause the organs to fail and may lead to septic shock. When this happens, several organs such as the lungs, kidney and liver can fail, resulting in death.The unidentified patient who died in Texas developed severe pain in his legs and feet three days after swimming in the Gulf of mexico. The man had recently gotten a new tattoo just five days earlier.According to CNN, he was admitted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas where his condition worsened. He died at 31 years of age following two months of treatment.