Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

What are the signs and symptoms of sepsis – and who is most at risk?

Sepsis can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Sepsis can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Sepsis is a dangerous health complication that can be deadly if not spotted early on. But knowing the symptoms could save your or someone else’s life.

In Scotland, an estimated 4,000 people die from sepsis every year, meaning it claims more lives than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined.

So, what actually is sepsis? What are the signs and symptoms? Do these differ for children? And who is most at risk of developing it?

We’re answering all your questions about the condition, to mark World Sepsis Day.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.

It develops when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.

Anyone can develop sepsis, but some are more likely than others.

It is a rare but serious complication and without quick treatment, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Sepsis can be triggered by an infection in any part of the body. The most common sites of infection leading to sepsis are the lungs, urinary tract, abdomen and pelvis.

Who is most at risk of sepsis?

Anyone can develop sepsis, however certain groups are more likely to develop it than others, including people who:

  • are very young or very old
  • are pregnant
  • have had a urinary catheter fitted
  • have a long-term health condition like diabetes
  • have recently had surgery
  • 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

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Sepsis symptoms vary depending on age. In adults and older children, early signs of sepsis can include a fever, chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and fast breathing.

In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis or septic shock (when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level) develop. These can include:

  • feeling dizzy or faint
  • a change in mental state – like confusion or disorientation
  • diarrhoea
  • nausea and vomiting
  • slurred speech
  • severe muscle pain
  • severe breathlessness
  • less urine production than normal
  • cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin
  • loss of consciousness
The five key symptoms of sepsis.

Sepsis can affect adults and children so it’s also important to know the symptoms for infants and pre-school children.

Symptoms in children under five years old

  • a temperature below 36°C or above 38°C
  • difficulty breathing
  • struggling to speak normally
  • no interest in eating or drinking
  • black, green or bloody vomit
  • a soft spot on a baby’s head that bulges
  • “sunken” eyes
  • a baby that’s floppy
  • unresponsive
  • stiffness in the neck, especially when trying to look up or down
  • not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours

You should always phone 999 or go to A&E immediately if you think you or someone else is developing sepsis. Doing so could be life saving.

What is the treatment for sepsis?

Treatment for sepsis varies, depending on the cause of the infection, organs affected and extent of damage to the body.

The main treatment for sepsis at any stage is antibiotics which are given intravenously – directly into the vein This should be delivered within hours of diagnosis.

Antibiotic tablets should then replace the intravenous medication and will be taken for up to 10 days, depending on the severity of the condition.

The source of the infection causing the sepsis, such as an abscess or infected wound, will also be treated.

Conversation