Sepsis
Sepsis is a rare but serious complication of an infection. Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
Symptoms in children
Go straight to the hospital or call an ambulance if your child
looks mottled, bluish or pale
is very lethargic or difficult to wake
feels abnormally cold to touch
is breathing very fast
has a rash that does not fade when you press it
has a fit or convulsion
Get medical advice urgently if your child has any of the symptoms below
any high temperature in a child who cannot be encouraged to show interest in anything
low temperature (below 36C, check three times in a 10-minute period)
finding it much harder to breathe than normal
making grunting noises with every breath
cant say more than a few words at once
breathing with obvious pauses
not urinated for 12 hours
new baby under one month old with no interest in feeding
not drinking for more than eight hours
bile-stained (green), bloody or black vomit/sick
soft spot on a babys head is bulging
eyes look sunken
child cannot be encouraged to show interest in anything
weak, whining or continuous crying in a younger child
older child whos confused
not responding or very irritable
stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down
Symptoms in adults
Early symptoms of sepsis may include:
a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature
chills and shivering
a fast heartbeat
fast breathing
In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis or septic shock (when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level) develop soon after.
These can include:
feeling dizzy or faint
a change in mental state such as confusion or disorientation
diarrhoea
nausea and vomiting
slurred speech
severe muscle pain
severe breathlessness
less urine production than normal for example, not urinating for a day
cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin
loss of consciousness
Seek medical advice urgently if youve recently had an infection or injury and you have possible early signs of sepsis. If sepsis is suspected, youll usually be referred to hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.
Severe sepsis and septic shock are medical emergencies. If you think you or someone in your care has one of these conditions, go straight to the emergency or call 999.
Diagnosis
Sepsis is often diagnosed based on simple measurements such as your temperature, heart rate and breathing rate. You may need to give a blood test.
Other tests can help determine the type of infection, where its located and which body functions have been affected. These include:
urine or stool samples
a wound culture where a small sample of tissue, skin or fluid is taken from the affected area for testing
respiratory secretion testing taking a sample of saliva, phlegm or mucus
blood pressure tests
imaging studies such as an X-ray, ultrasound scan or CT scan
Treatments
If sepsis is detected early and hasnt affected vital organs yet, it may be possible to treat the infection at home with antibiotics. Most people who have sepsis detected at this stage make a full recovery.
Almost all people with severe sepsis and septic shock require admission to hospital. Some people may require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Because of problems with vital organs, people with severe sepsis are likely to be very ill and the condition can be fatal. However, sepsis is treatable if it is identified and treated quickly, and in most cases leads to a full recovery with no lasting problems.
Whos at risk
Anyone can develop sepsis after an injury or minor infection, although some people are more vulnerable.
People most at risk of sepsis include those:
with a medical condition or receiving medical treatment that weakens their immune system
who are already in hospital with a serious illness
who are very young or very old
who have just had surgery or who have wounds or injuries as a result of an accident
Although sepsis is often referred to as either blood poisoning or septicaemia, these terms refer to the invasion of bacteria into the bloodstream.
Sepsis can affect multiple organs or the entire body, even without blood poisoning or septicaemia. Sepsis can also be caused by viral or fungal infections, although bacterial infections are by far the most common cause.
Source: nhs.uk
