What is multiple organ failure?
FAMILY, friends and fans are in shock over the unexpected death of one of Uganda’s most celebrated radio presenters, Ronnie Sempangi or DJ Ronnie as he was popularly known.
By Gilbert Kidimu
FAMILY, friends and fans are in shock over the unexpected death of one of Uganda’s most celebrated radio presenters, Ronnie Sempangi or DJ Ronnie as he was popularly known.
Doctors said Sempangi succumbed to multiple organ failure. He had complained of severe stomach pain before being rushed to hospital where he suddenly lost his sight before he died.
Multiple system or organ failure is a general term given to the condition where more than one of the vital organs of the body stops working normally.
When more than one of the vital organs, that is, the liver, pancreas and kidney fail, it causes a system failure.
Dr Raymond Tumwebaze of Nsambya hospital says the liver synthesizes some vital acids for the body and stores glycogen which is a source of energy.
The kidney is mainly an excretory organ and for the most part manages salts. It also plays an important role in blood pressure control and production of certain growth factors for formation of blood.
These vital body organs are complementary. When one of them fails, others follow suit causing multiple system failure. The more organs fail to function, the less likely the patient will get better from a critical illness.
Causes
Bacterial infection is one of the leading factors responsible for multiple system failure. It leads to a systemic inflammatory response resulting in one organ failing after another.
Parasitic infections like malaria and viral infections like hepatitis are also common causes of multiple system failure.
Toxicity from medication, overdose, simple everyday pain-killers, and even medical drugs in their normal dozes can knock off the pancreas resulting in organ failure.
Alcohol consumption especially crude waragi is a cause of liver cirrhosis.
Dr James Kagende of Scot Clinic says toxic or junk food has a high chemical concentration which damages the liver during synthesis and excretion.
“Junk food will first affect the liver and other internal organs before encroaching on the outside†he says.
Some cosmetics also contain dangerous chemicals like hydoquinon which not only destroy the skin but also get absorbed into the blood stream and as a result damage the kidneys.
Dr David Ssali, a naturopathic doctor, says toxemia (poison) paves the way for system failure:
He says that eating the wrong food causes stagnation in the large intestines and raises yeast and accumulates poison in the body.
He also says that food lacking fibre is hard to digest because it overworks the kidneys leading to kidney failure.
Dr. Raymond Tumwebaze of Nsambya Hospital says some causes of system failure are surgical. He says that mothers can get complications which affect their body organs during childbirth.
Warning signs
Depending on the cause, patients suffering multiple organ failure are severely dehydrated, restless and confused.
“Normally these are very ill patients as the disease progression is fast,†says Tumwebaze.
In case it is the liver with a problem, the patient’s eyes turn yellow, the blood pressure is low and the urine output is very little.
Frequent malaria episodes, weakness and sometimes mental disorder are also common symptoms.
Prevention
Exercise can reduce the likelihood of system failure caused by toxicity.
“When one exercises, he eases digestion, burns fats and releases certain toxins in the body hence reducing risks like heart failure,†says Dr. Kagende.
The onus is on the individual to take precautionary measures for a healthy body. Dr. Ssali says a healthy, natural diet and colon irrigation will keep such conditions completely away.
Colon irrigation is a therapy which helps to release toxins, cleanse the blood, stimulate the immune system and aid in restoring the PH balance in the body.
Whereas enema only washes waste matter out of the rectum, colon irrigation allows water to wash and empty the entire colon and large intestines of all waste matter hence allowing lubrication.
“Do not wait to get sick. Clean your system and eat healthy food instead of cholesterol and artificial sugars,†advises Ssali.
Diagnosis and treatment
“We examine samples of, say, the blood or excrete of the patient to find out which organs are failing or have failed,†explains Dr. Kagende.
“Sometimes biopsy (cutting off a small piece of the affected part) is done to confirm the cause,†he says.
Doctors must have a high index of suspicion to identify the condition early enough so as to intervene.
Dr. Tumwebaze says such patients are emergencies who should be nursed in intensive care units. “There must be a substitute for the failing organs; a machine to remove urine, detoxification of the liver and kidney. If it is an infection, the lost blood has to be replaced,†he explains.
Alternative therapy
Dr. Ssali suggests natural remedies, which are significantly cheaper. For instance, eating ginger, turmeric and radish cleanses the body especially the liver and kidney from toxins.
“The body should be helped to reduce toxins by cleansing the colon,†he says.
Chances of survival
Many health units in Uganda are not in position to handle these conditions. Tumwebaze says functioning renal units, where one can get a dialysis done like Mulago hospital and Case Clinic are few.
Of the number of people who suffer from this condition, only a small fraction get proper treatment due to high charges and the small number of doctors able to use the dialysis machine.
Dr. Tumwebaze says in a month, only one or two patients suffering from multiple system failure are admitted to Nsambya Hospital.
But although the cases are few, the mortality rate is high. “Most patients admitted die within three to four days,†Tumwebaze says.
Costs
A patient on dialysis pays sh1m and admission to an intensive care unit costs an average of sh300,000 a day. A dose of antibiotics like melonem costs sh1.2m.
However, preventive herbal remedies are a bit pocket-friendly at sh400,000 full treatment.
FAMILY, friends and fans are in shock over the unexpected death of one of Uganda’s most celebrated radio presenters, Ronnie Sempangi or DJ Ronnie as he was popularly known.
Doctors said Sempangi succumbed to multiple organ failure. He had complained of severe stomach pain before being rushed to hospital where he suddenly lost his sight before he died.
Multiple system or organ failure is a general term given to the condition where more than one of the vital organs of the body stops working normally.
When more than one of the vital organs, that is, the liver, pancreas and kidney fail, it causes a system failure.
Dr Raymond Tumwebaze of Nsambya hospital says the liver synthesizes some vital acids for the body and stores glycogen which is a source of energy.
The kidney is mainly an excretory organ and for the most part manages salts. It also plays an important role in blood pressure control and production of certain growth factors for formation of blood.
These vital body organs are complementary. When one of them fails, others follow suit causing multiple system failure. The more organs fail to function, the less likely the patient will get better from a critical illness.
Causes
Bacterial infection is one of the leading factors responsible for multiple system failure. It leads to a systemic inflammatory response resulting in one organ failing after another.
Parasitic infections like malaria and viral infections like hepatitis are also common causes of multiple system failure.
Toxicity from medication, overdose, simple everyday pain-killers, and even medical drugs in their normal dozes can knock off the pancreas resulting in organ failure.
Alcohol consumption especially crude waragi is a cause of liver cirrhosis.
Dr James Kagende of Scot Clinic says toxic or junk food has a high chemical concentration which damages the liver during synthesis and excretion.
“Junk food will first affect the liver and other internal organs before encroaching on the outside†he says.
Some cosmetics also contain dangerous chemicals like hydoquinon which not only destroy the skin but also get absorbed into the blood stream and as a result damage the kidneys.
Dr David Ssali, a naturopathic doctor, says toxemia (poison) paves the way for system failure:
He says that eating the wrong food causes stagnation in the large intestines and raises yeast and accumulates poison in the body.
He also says that food lacking fibre is hard to digest because it overworks the kidneys leading to kidney failure.
Dr. Raymond Tumwebaze of Nsambya Hospital says some causes of system failure are surgical. He says that mothers can get complications which affect their body organs during childbirth.
Warning signs
Depending on the cause, patients suffering multiple organ failure are severely dehydrated, restless and confused.
“Normally these are very ill patients as the disease progression is fast,†says Tumwebaze.
In case it is the liver with a problem, the patient’s eyes turn yellow, the blood pressure is low and the urine output is very little.
Frequent malaria episodes, weakness and sometimes mental disorder are also common symptoms.
Prevention
Exercise can reduce the likelihood of system failure caused by toxicity.
“When one exercises, he eases digestion, burns fats and releases certain toxins in the body hence reducing risks like heart failure,†says Dr. Kagende.
The onus is on the individual to take precautionary measures for a healthy body. Dr. Ssali says a healthy, natural diet and colon irrigation will keep such conditions completely away.
Colon irrigation is a therapy which helps to release toxins, cleanse the blood, stimulate the immune system and aid in restoring the PH balance in the body.
Whereas enema only washes waste matter out of the rectum, colon irrigation allows water to wash and empty the entire colon and large intestines of all waste matter hence allowing lubrication.
“Do not wait to get sick. Clean your system and eat healthy food instead of cholesterol and artificial sugars,†advises Ssali.
Diagnosis and treatment
“We examine samples of, say, the blood or excrete of the patient to find out which organs are failing or have failed,†explains Dr. Kagende.
“Sometimes biopsy (cutting off a small piece of the affected part) is done to confirm the cause,†he says.
Doctors must have a high index of suspicion to identify the condition early enough so as to intervene.
Dr. Tumwebaze says such patients are emergencies who should be nursed in intensive care units. “There must be a substitute for the failing organs; a machine to remove urine, detoxification of the liver and kidney. If it is an infection, the lost blood has to be replaced,†he explains.
Alternative therapy
Dr. Ssali suggests natural remedies, which are significantly cheaper. For instance, eating ginger, turmeric and radish cleanses the body especially the liver and kidney from toxins.
“The body should be helped to reduce toxins by cleansing the colon,†he says.
Chances of survival
Many health units in Uganda are not in position to handle these conditions. Tumwebaze says functioning renal units, where one can get a dialysis done like Mulago hospital and Case Clinic are few.
Of the number of people who suffer from this condition, only a small fraction get proper treatment due to high charges and the small number of doctors able to use the dialysis machine.
Dr. Tumwebaze says in a month, only one or two patients suffering from multiple system failure are admitted to Nsambya Hospital.
But although the cases are few, the mortality rate is high. “Most patients admitted die within three to four days,†Tumwebaze says.
Costs
A patient on dialysis pays sh1m and admission to an intensive care unit costs an average of sh300,000 a day. A dose of antibiotics like melonem costs sh1.2m.
However, preventive herbal remedies are a bit pocket-friendly at sh400,000 full treatment.