Sepsis victims shun hospital treatment as result of pandemic

TWO thirds of people with symptoms of sepsis would not go to hospital for fear of catching coronavirus, a survey has found.

A YouGov poll for the Sepsis Trust found only around a third of British adults would be very likely to seek medical help for three of the main symptoms of sepsis: extreme shivering and muscle pain (33 per cent), passing no urine in a day (39 per cent) and skin that is mottled, discoloured or very pale (32 per cent).

Two thirds (63 per cent) said they feared the risk of contracting Covid-19, while a quarter (26 per cent) were worried about diverting resources away from patients with the virus.

The survey also found that just over half of the population (52 per cent) are less confident entering a hospital or clinic than they were at this time last year.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that there are approximately 245,000 new cases of sepsis in the UK every year.

But according to NHS England and NHS Improvement, there were 60 per cent fewer sepsis admissions (corresponding to a reduction by 14,000) in April 2020 compared with the average between April 2015 and 2019.

Dr Ron Daniels, founder and director of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “This World Sepsis Day, it is important to remind ourselves of the potentially catastrophic impact of non-Covid-related excess deaths.

“While it is reassuring that 96 per cent of us now have some knowledge of the condition, it is deeply alarming that so many are unlikely to seek medical help for its symptoms.

“Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon. It is hugely important therefore that we continue to seek professional help for other serious illnesses.

“Please familiarise yourself with the six main symptoms of sepsis and if you recognise any of them get yourself checked as soon as possible.”

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury.

Normally the immune system fights infection, but sometimes it attacks the body’s own organs and tissues.

If not treated immediately, sepsis can result in organ failure and death, however with early diagnosis it can be treated with antibiotics.

The three other main symptoms of sepsis – as agreed with Public Health England – are slurred speech or confusion, severe breathlessness, and feeling like you are going to die.

YouGov surveyed 2,056 over-18s between Sept 1 and 2.

245,000 The estimated number of cases in the UK each year of sepsis, where the immune system overreacts to an infection or injury