Think Sepsis

Sepsis is life threatening. It can be hard to spot.

There are lots of possible symptoms. They can be like symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.

If you think you or someone you look after has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to the Emergency Department at The Grange University Hospital. Trust your instincts.

 

Call 999 or go to the Emergency Department at The Grange University Hospital if:

A baby or young child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:

Are breathing very fast 

Have a ‘fit’ or convulsion 

Look mottled, bluish, or pale – on darker pigmented skin, colour changes may show on the inside of the forearms or palms 

Have a rash that does not fade when you press it 

Are very lethargic or difficult to wake

Feel abnormally cold to touch

 

A child under 5 may have sepsis if they: 

Are not feeding 

Are vomiting repeatedly 

Have not passed urine for 12 hours

 

Call 999 or go to the Emergency Department at The Grange University Hospital if:

An adult or older child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:

Slurred speech or confusion
Extreme shivering or muscle pain
Passing no urine (in a day)
Severe breathlessness
It feels like you’re going to die
Skin mottled or discoloured

 

Call 111 now if:

You, your child or someone you look after:

  • feels very unwell or like there's something seriously wrong
  • has not had a pee all day (for adults and older children) or in the last 12 hours (for babies and young children)
  • keeps vomiting and cannot keep any food or milk down (for babies and young children)
  • has swelling or pain around a cut or wound
  • has a very high or low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivering

Do not worry if you're not sure if it's sepsis – it's still best to call 111.

They can tell you what to do, arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor, or call you an ambulance.

 

Sepsis can be especially hard to spot in:

babies and young children

people with dementia

people with a learning disabilitypeople who have difficulty communicating

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.

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

You cannot catch sepsis from another person.

Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.

Who's more likely to get sepsis:

  • Anyone with an infection can get sepsis.
  • Some people are more likely to get an infection that could lead to sepsis, including:
  • babies under 1, particularly if they're born early (premature) or their mother had an infection while pregnant
  • people over 75
  • people with diabetes
  • people with a weakened immune system, such as those having chemotherapy treatment or who recently had an organ transplant
  • people who have recently had surgery or a serious illness
  • women who have just given birth, had a miscarriage or had an abortion

You cannot catch sepsis from another person. It happens when your body overreacts to an infection.

Maternal sepsis is sepsis – a life-threatening condition – that develops during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the months following childbirth. It can also complicate abortions and miscarriages. While maternal sepsis mortality is high in low-to-middle income countries (around 400 per 100,000 live births), the UK has a much lower rate of approximately one per hundred thousand. 

 

What are the symptoms of maternal sepsis?

Symptoms of maternal sepsis are the same as for the general adult population*:

  • Slurred speech or confusion
  • Extreme shivering or muscle pain
  • Passing no urine (in a day)
  • Severe breathlessness
  • It feels like you’re going to die
  • Skin mottled or discoloured

 

Additional symptoms which might affect people during or after pregnancy due to the possibility of infection include: 

  • Fever and chills 
  • Dizziness 
  • Lower abdominal pain 
  • Foul-smelling vaginal discharge 
  • Vaginal bleeding 
  • Increased heart rate 
  • Discomfort or illness

 

How does maternal sepsis develop? 

Pregnant women face a slightly higher risk of sepsis due to naturally occurring immunological changes, the need for procedures or surgery, and risks due to complications, such as premature rupture of membranes or gestational diabetes.  

The most common cause is a severe bacterial infection of the uterus during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth. Maternal sepsis could also be caused by a urinary infection, or pneumonia.  

Pregnant women who have a chronic condition impacting one of their organs are the most at risk from maternal sepsis.  

 

Is maternal sepsis preventable?  

Like any form of sepsis, maternal sepsis can’t be prevented but we can reduce the risk of developing infection by practising good hygiene, such as washing hands before and after changing a sanitary pad or touching the perineum.   

Since pregnant women are also at a heightened risk of developing sepsis from other sources, including influenza, the ‘flu’ vaccine is recommended for pregnant women. 

It's not always possible to prevent sepsis.

There are things you can do to help prevent infections that can lead to sepsis.

Do:

  • keep up to date with vaccines, particularly for babies, children, older people and pregnant women
  • clean and care for any wounds
  • take antibiotics correctly - follow the instructions and take all your prescribed antibiotics, even if you feel better
  • wash your hands regularly and teach children how to wash their hands well

Don't:

do not ignore symptoms of sepsis

Sepsis needs treatment in hospital straight away because it can get worse quickly.

You should get antibiotics within 1 hour of arriving at hospital.

If sepsis is not treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause your organs to fail. This is life threatening.

You may need other tests or treatments depending on your symptoms, including:

treatment in an intensive care unit

a machine to help you breathe (ventilator)

surgery to remove areas of infection

You may need to stay in hospital for several weeks.

Most people make a full recovery from sepsis. But it can take time.

You might continue to have physical and emotional symptoms. These can last for months, or even years, after you had sepsis.

These long-term effects are sometimes called post-sepsis syndrome, and can include:

  • feeling very tired and weak, and difficulty sleeping
  • lack of appetite
  • getting ill more often
  • changes in your mood, or anxiety or depression
  • nightmares or flashbacks
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

 

Treatment for post-sepsis syndrome

Most symptoms of post-sepsis syndrome should get better on their own. But it can take time.

There are things you can do to help with some long-term effects.

Do:

ask your work about changes to your working hours or conditions while you're recovering

some gentle, easy exercises to build your strength

get regular sleep

try to prevent infections - for example, by washing your hands regularly

try to eat little and often if you have a small appetite

Don't:

do not try to rush your recovery – give yourself time

See a GP about:

treatment for physical side effects

treatment and support for emotional symptoms


Find out more:

NHS 111 Wales - Health A-Z : Sepsis

UK Sepsis Trust: support for sepsis survivors

UK Sepsis Trust: post-sepsis syndrome

UK Sepsis Trust: caring for a sepsis survivor

Improving the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of expectant mothers, infants, children and young people throughout Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Area.

(N.B: The Family and Therapies team at ABUHB is NOT responsible for the content on the webpage links that we refer to in our resource sections and linked information to external sites. All information was accurate and appropriate at the time the webpage was created.)

Accessibility tools