A MAJOR breakthrough has been made for thousands with a "silent killer" as a study found new "headphones" stop the disease in its tracks.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.
It causes extensive inflammation throughout the body that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death.
The disease acts so fast it is often described as a silent killer.
In the last 20 years, the vagus nerve has drawn significant attention for its anti-inflammation effect.
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Researchers at Shandong University in China selected 20 patients who had been admitted to intensive care with sepsis.
The small trial electrically stimulated the vagus nerve in a technique referred to as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
Vagus nerve stimulation therapy can be used as a treatment for epilepsy, depression, inflammation, metabolic syndrome and heart disease.
The pilot study was conducted based on the anti-inflammation effect of VNS in animal research.
The scientists used a device that looks and is worn like an earphone to produce a mild electric current.
They all wore the "stimulation electrodes", but only half received the ear-zapping technique, while the others acted as a control group.
Those who were given the treatment 30 minutes daily, for five days in a row experienced significant reductions in inflammation.
The treatment observed no side effects, but the scientists acknowledged the small size of the group tested.