Sepsis
Symptoms of sepsis
Sepsis can cause a variety of symptoms.
Sepsis symptoms in children under 5
Temperature
- over 38C (babies under 3 months)
- over 39C (babies aged 3 to 6 months)
- below 36C – check 3 times in a 10-minute period
- a high temperature in a child who can’t be encouraged to show interest in anything
Breathing
- difficulty breathing – this looks like hard work
- grunting with every breath
- struggling to speak more than a few words at once (for older children who normally talk)
- breathing that obviously "pauses"
Eating and drinking
- no interest in feeding (child under 1 month)
- not drinking for more than 8 hours (when awake)
- black, green or bloody vomit
Body
- a soft spot on a baby's head that bulges
- “sunken” eyes
- a baby that’s floppy
- a child that can’t be encouraged to show interest in anything
- weak, whining or continuous crying in a younger child
- confusion in an older child
- irritableness
- unresponsive
- stiffness in the neck, especially when trying to look up or down
- not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours
Immediate action required: Go to A&E or call 999 if your child:
- is very lethargic or difficult to wake
- feels abnormally cold to touch
- is breathing very fast
- has a rash that does not fade when you press it
- has a fit or convulsion
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).
Sepsis symptoms in older children and adults
Early symptoms of sepsis may include:
- a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature
- chills and shivering
- a fast heartbeat
- fast breathing
Symptoms of severe sepsis or septic shock
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 – for example, not urinating for a day
- cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin
- loss of consciousness
Urgent advice: Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you've recently had an infection or injury and you have possible signs of sepsis
- you think you or someone in your care has severe sepsis or septic shock
Don't be afraid to ask the healthcare professional 'is this sepsis?'.