Singer Madonna had to be hospitalized in the emergency room after suffering from a serious bacterial infection, some bacteria can cause the victim to die within a few hours.

On June 25, the 64-year-old singer was hospitalized in New York and taken to the Intensive Care Unit, where she was intubated for at least one night. Guy Oseary, Madonna’s manager, said the American singer is suffering from a “serious infection”. Her 80-show world tour, which began on July 15, was postponed so she could recover.

Oseary added that Madonna’s health is improving and “a full recovery is expected”.

Singer Madonna. Photo: Cassy Athena

It is unclear exactly what strain of bacteria the singer was infected with, but bacterial infections can affect parts of the body, including the skin, lungs and blood.

While most bacteria are harmless, some can enter the body through breaks in the skin, such as cuts, insect bites or surgical wounds. Other types enter the body through breathing, eating or having s.e.x.

Examples of bacterial infections include strep A, salmonella, and impetigo. Symptoms may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sweats and chills, as well as headache, muscle pain, fatigue and chest pain. However,
these symptoms depend on the location of the infection. For example, while ear infections can cause ear pain and difficulty hearing, salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Antibiotics, which may be in tablet, liquid, cream or intravenous form, are used to treat infections. The medicine works by killing bacteria or stopping them from multiplying. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, such as the flu virus.

While most cases are mild, some untreated bacterial infections can lead to serious complications.

One of the most life-threatening infections is sepsis. It occurs when the immune system, which helps fight infection, overreacts to the infection, starting to attack tissues and organs in the body.

Sepsis, notoriously difficult to detect because its symptoms can be confused with milder illnesses, requires immediate medical treatment because the patient’s condition can deteriorate rapidly. Without emergency care, it can lead to septic shock, organ failure, and eventually death. This can happen within a few hours.

Patients may need treatment in an intensive care unit, be placed on a ventilator, or have surgery to remove infected areas. Some remained hospitalized for weeks.

Around 250,000 Britons get sepsis each year and 52,000 die, according to the Sepsis Trust . In the US, there are 1.7 million cases each year and 270,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most patients recover completely from sepsis. However, some people experience long-term problems, including feeling very tired and weak, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, frequent illness, mood swings, nightmares and stress disorders.