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Sepsis arises when the body responds to an infection and in doing so, injures its own tissues and organs, causing the immune system to go into overdrive. It is a life-threatening condition which can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and even death if it is not recognised and treated promptly.
Sepsis doesn’t discriminate, while it usually affects young children, older adults and those who have underlying health conditions, it can also affect the fit and healthy. The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) consider that in the UK, five people lose their lives to sepsis every hour with around 48,000 people losing their lives to sepsis each year, which make for significant figures.
A survey in 2024 commissioned by UKST found that 94% of the public are generally aware of the condition and 91% recognise it as an emergency. However, only 31% of people felt confident that they would recognise if they, or someone else may have sepsis.
So how can I spot sepsis in adults?
You can increase your chances of spotting sepsis in adults by using the checklist below to identify the symptoms:
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
By doing your research and educating yourself on the symptoms of sepsis, you could very well save yours or a loved one’s life. If you consider that you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of sepsis, please seek medical attention immediately.
What about sepsis in children?
As mentioned before, sepsis doesn’t discriminate and sadly affects children too. However, the symptoms of sepsis are different in children compared to adults. A child may have sepsis if they:
- 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
It is important that you call 111 or contact your GP if you are worried about an infection. If your child, or a child you know has one of the sepsis symptoms, call 999 or visit A&E.
UKST have partnered with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to distribute educational materials, share real-life stories and run campaigns to encourage prompt action. UKST provides a wealth of information that can help you and your loved ones be more aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis and even provides an online sepsis assessment if you feel that you may be at risk. Their website shares vital materials such as the ‘spotting the unwell child’ leaflet. The leaflet can be accessed here:
https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2024-11/spotting-the-unwell-child.pdf
Why do we care?
Often, in clinical negligence, we see misdiagnoses of sepsis or delays in diagnoses of sepsis which are often fatal, in adults and young people alike. By raising awareness of sepsis, we can help to spread knowledge and drive change.
The sad case of Bethan James, who passed away from sepsis at just 21, highlights just how prevalent sepsis is in everyone’s community. Sadly, the signs of sepsis were not spotted early enough in Bethan’s case and life-saving care was delayed. At her inquest, the coroner found that she would not have died had her care and treatment not been delayed.
Ron Daniels, the UKST’s chief medical officer notes that sepsis ‘is one of the biggest killers we face’. Since Bethan’s death, the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have made sepsis awareness and early recognition a priority and are ‘continuously reviewing sepsis training to improve consistency and accessibility’. However, the BBC’s Freedom of Information Request discovered that health boards in Wales did not have standalone sepsis training. UKST wants all clinical hospital staff to have mandatory training to make sure sepsis is caught as early as possible.
In Wales, the Aneurin Bevan Health Board have adopted a scheme called ‘Call for Concern’ enabling staff, patients, families and carers to obtain a second opinion about inpatients where their condition has deteriorated quickly. In England, there is a similar way for families to seek a second opinion called ‘Martha’s Rule’, named after a 13 year old girl called Martha Mills who sadly died in 2021 after missed opportunities to treat her sepsis. If you are concerned about a loved one, who is an inpatient, we encourage you to follow these schemes and ask for a second opinion.
No one thinks it will happen to them or their loved ones, until it does. Unfortunately, we see many cases where people’s lives are affected by sepsis which is why we want to increase understanding of such a widespread issue.
If you feel that you or a loved one has suffered a misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis of sepsis, please reach out to our clinical negligence department who will be able to assist.
The link below is to a podcast where our guest Kirsty talks about her Dad's journey from medical emergencies, infections and surgery, to being diagnosed with cancer and facing a battle with sepsis. Kirsty shares the frustrations she and her family faced once they arrived at the hospital where there was a lack of medical support in recognising that her Dad had sepsis.
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