Sepsis
About sepsis
Immediate action required: Phone 999 immediately or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- you have cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
- you have a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it, or looks like bruising or bleeding under the skin
Always trust your instincts and phone 999 if you think there’s an emergency.
Immediate action required: Phone 999 or go to A&E if your child:
- is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do – they may find it difficult to focus on you or are more difficult to wake up than usual
- has severe difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises or suck their stomach in under their ribcage
- is breathing fast or stops or pauses
- is pulling in at their throat area (tracheal tug) or their windpipe is more prominent
- has a fit (febrile seizure) for the first time (they cannot stop shaking
- has lips or skin that are turning pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of their hands
- has a weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- has cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
- has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it (use the ‘glass test‘ from Meningitis Now)
- is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C or above
- is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 36°C or less
Urgent advice: Contact your GP practice urgently if you or your child:
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- has difficulty breathing – you may be more short of breath than usual
- has pain when breathing in or coughing
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more, or is showing other signs of dehydration
- has a high temperature that has lasted for more than 5 days
- has severe muscle pain
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- has pain or swelling in the arms or legs
- has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
Trust your instincts and phone 111 if your child’s symptoms are getting worse or they are sicker than you’d expect (even if their temperature falls).
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a rare but serious complication of an infection.
Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
What causes a sepsis infection?
The immune system usually keeps an infection limited to one place. This is called a localised infection. To do this, the body produces white blood cells.
White blood cells travel to an infection site to destroy the germs causing the infection. This triggers tissue swelling, known as inflammation. This helps to fight the infection and prevent it from spreading.
However, an infection can spread to other parts of the body if the immune system is weak or an infection is severe.
Widespread inflammation can damage tissue and interfere with blood flow. When blood flow is interrupted, blood pressure can drop dangerously low. This stops oxygen from reaching the organs and tissues.
Sources of infection
Sepsis can be triggered by an infection in any part of the body. The most common sites of infection that lead to sepsis are the:
- lungs
- urinary tract
- tummy (abdomen)
- pelvis
However, sometimes the specific infection and source of sepsis can't be identified.
Tests to diagnose sepsis
Sepsis is often diagnosed by testing your:
- temperature
- heart rate
- breathing rate
- blood
Other tests can help determine the type of infection, where it's located and which parts of the body 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 – like an X-ray, ultrasound scan or computerised tomography (CT) scan
Who’s at risk of sepsis?
Anyone can develop sepsis after an injury or minor infection. However, some people are more vulnerable, including people who:
- are very young
- are very old
- are pregnant
- have had a urinary catheter fitted
- have a long term health condition like diabetes
- have recently had surgery
- are genetically prone to infections
- are already in hospital with a serious illness
- have to stay in hospital for a long time
- have wounds or injuries as a result of an accident
- have a medical condition that weakens the immune system – like HIV or leukaemia
- are receiving medical treatment that weakens the immune system – like chemotherapy or long-term steroids
- are on mechanical ventilation – where a machine is used to help you breathe
Recovering from sepsis
Some people make a full recovery from sepsis fairly quickly. The amount of time it takes to fully recover from sepsis varies depending on:
- the severity of the sepsis
- the person's overall health
- how much time was spent in hospital
- whether treatment was needed in an intensive care unit (ICU)
Long term effects of sepsis
Some people with sepsis will experience long-term physical and psychological problems. This is known as post-sepsis syndrome.
Symptoms of post-sepsis syndrome include:
- feeling lethargic or excessively tired
- muscle weakness
- swollen limbs
- joint pain
- chest pain
- breathlessness