What is Sepsis and why is diagnosis urgent?
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can arise when our body’s own immune system overreacts and causes damage to our tissues and organs, such as our heart and kidneys. If it is not identified and treated quickly, it can lead to shock, multiple organ failure, and death. The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that around 245,000 people in the UK develop sepsis each year of which a staggering 48,000 people will die as a result. In fact, more lives are lost to sepsis than those caused by breast, bowel, and lung cancer combined. More worryingly, sepsis is often misunderstood or mistaken for something less serious, like the flu. As a result, this lack of awareness can delay critical treatment. Therefore, early recognition and prompt medical intervention are crucial to improving outcomes.
This blog is designed to serve as a brief overview of the condition. More indepth information can be found at The UK Sepsis Trust from which this blog has been referenced.
Signs and symptoms - a helpful acronym
Sepsis is a consequence of other underlying infections, such as a chest infection, urine infection, cellulitis or wound infection. However, it is still not clear why some people develop it and others do not but it is not infectious or ‘catching.’
This table uses sepsis as an acronym to help people to remember what to look out for to get help early: –
S | Slurred speech OR CONFUSION |
E | Extreme shivering or muscle pain |
P | Passing no urine (in a day) |
S | Severe breathlessness |
I | I feel like I might die |
S | Skin mottled and discoloured |
What to do is if you suspect sepsis
1. Get medical advice immediately.
2. Call 111 who will prioritise your call, running through a list a questions to rule in/out sepsis
3. If the person loses consciousness or cannot breathe, call 999
NB: Do not be afraid to seek advice early, and even say that you are worried this might be sepsis – it is better to be cautious. Health professionals will be as keen to identify/rule out sepsis at the earliest opprtunity.
Further information
Recovery from sepsis can vary from person to person. Around 40% of people may go on to experience new physical, psychological or emotional symptoms.
The Sepsis UK Trust has produced a helpful leaflet for patients and relatives in which this infromation and more can be found. Find it here on our link:
