Rarely a week goes by without a news report of another tragic death due to the killer condition sepsis.
Also known as blood poisoning or septicaemia, sepsis is an extremely serious, often fatal condition that kills around 52,000 people in the UK every year.
Sepsis Facts
- Cases of sepsis deaths have risen a reported 30% in recent years
- Up to 25,000 cases a year are children, and many are elderly
- Sepsis kills up to five people an hour in the UK
- Sepsis is aggressive and without appropriate treatment can kill in just a few hours
- 25% of all sepsis sufferers report serious, long-term impact on their lives post illness
This makes it vital that anyone in a caring role, be it a parent, nanny, carer or professional understand the signs of sepsis and when to seek and provide urgent care.
What Causes Sepsis
Sepsis is caused when the body responds abnormally to germs, such as bacteria when they get into the body and the person’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs.
It can result from any infection, even something as minor as a small cut or bite, sore throat, chest or urine infection.
If not treated quickly with fluids and antibiotics, sepsis leads to shock, multiple organ failure and death so it is vital that you know what to look out for.
Cases of sepsis deaths have risen a reported 30% in recent years
Risk Factors
Being very young, recently unwell or old, diabetic, pregnant or on long-term steroids puts you at a higher risk.
Signs and symptoms
The UK Sepsis Trust website has six signs for adults and six for children (plus infants) that you need to be aware of.
Seek urgent medical advice if there are early signs of flu-like illness, chest infection, diarrhoea and vomiting or inability to eat and drink, together with one of the symptoms of sepsis listed below:
ADULTS
- Pale, mottled skin
- Muscle pain and shivering
- Slurred speech
- Breathlessness
- Failure to pass any urine
- A sense of ‘impending doom’ or a feeling that they might die
CHILDREN
If your child is unwell with either a fever or very low temperature (or has had a fever in the last 24 hours), call 999 and just ask: could it be sepsis?
A child may have sepsis if he or she:
- Is breathing unusually fast
- Has a ‘fit’ or convulsion
- Looks mottled, bluish, or pale
- Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
- Is very lethargic or difficult to wake
- Feels abnormally cold to touch
A child under 5 may have sepsis if he or she:
- Is not feeding
- Is vomiting repeatedly
- Has not passed urine for 12 hours
For more information about sepsis go to: http://sepsistrust.org/
Book a first aid course with Safe and Sound here: https://www.safeandsound.uk.net/course-type/first-aid/
