Final answer:
Sepsis/septic shock is an oncological emergency due to an overactive immune response to an infection, leading to systemic inflammation, dangerously low blood pressure, blood clots, organ failure, and death. It demands immediate medical intervention with treatments like fluid resuscitation, vasopressors, and antibiotics to prevent these critical outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to why sepsis/septic shock is considered an oncological emergency. The correct answer is b) Due to an overactive immune response to an infection. Sepsis and septic shock arise when an infection, often caused by bacteria, leads to a systemic inflammatory response known as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This overwhelming immune response can result in dangers like severe drops in blood pressure, intravascular blood clotting, the development of thrombi and emboli, multiple organ failure, and potentially death. The condition outputs large quantities of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) systemically, which can cause extensive damage more than the infection itself.
Therapies for sepsis and septic shock are aimed at stopping these dangerous outcomes and might include interventions such as aggressive fluid resuscitation to combat hypotension, use of vasopressors to stabilize blood pressure, and administration of antibiotics to tackle the underlying infection. Supportive care to maintain organ function is also critical. Given the severity of the outcomes from sepsis and septic shock, it is indeed an oncological emergency that requires immediate and intensive medical intervention.