SIGNS TO LOOK FOR

WHAT is sepsis?

According to the UK Sepsis Trust, sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.

Sepsis leads to shock, multiple organ failure and death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.

Sepsis can be caused by a huge variety of different bugs, most cases being caused by common bacteria which we all come into contact with every day without them making us ill.

Sometimes, though, the body responds abnormally to these infections and causes sepsis. ●●WHAT are the symptoms of sepsis?

Early symptoms include fast breathing or a fast heartbeat, high or low temperature, chills and shivering.

Sufferers may or may not have a fever. IN children, there are a number of signs that they may have sepsis: ●●Very fast breathing ●●Has a ‘fit’ or convulsion

●●Looks mottled, bluish or pale

●●Has a rash that does not fade when you press it

●●Is lethargic or difficult to wake

●●Feels abnormally cold to touch CHILDREN aged under five might have sepsis if: ●●They’re not feeding

●●They’re vomiting repeatedly

●●They haven’t urinated or had a wet nappy for 12 hours