Knowing the symptoms of sepsis can save your child’s life.
Each year, 2,000 children in the UK and 75,000 in the US develop the life-threatening reaction to infection.
If caught early, it is fully treatable with antibiotics. But without emergency care, organ failure can occur quickly. Some patients will die.
This happens when the immune system overreacts to an infection and starts attacking the body’s tissues and organs.
The actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara Francis are now talking about the “silent killer” who took the life of his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Maude in 2011.
In an ITV1 documentary, Jason & Clara: Maudie’s Memory, the couple reveal that her death from sepsis could have been prevented.
Here, MailOnline highlights the warning signs of sepsis in children to help identify the disease early.
Sepsis is life-threatening, but if caught early, it is treatable. Children with sepsis may have trouble breathing, have seizures, be lethargic, have a rash that won’t go away if you put a glass on it, and babies may have trouble feeding
skin change
Sepsis can cause the skin to change in appearance.
This can cause the skin to look mottled – if a web-like rash occurs – bluish, pale or create a rash that doesn’t fade, according to The UK Sepsis Trust.
A child’s skin may also feel unusually cold.
This is due to toxins produced by the bacteria causing the infection, which damage the small blood vessels and cause fluid to leak into surrounding tissues, according to the NHS.
It affects the heart’s ability to pump blood, lowers blood pressure and the body’s surface temperature.
Jason Watkins and Clara Francis worked on Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie, in which the couple will offer support to other families grieving after the death of their two-year-old daughter in 2011
Ahead of the documentary’s release, the couple spoke to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast about the devastating loss of their child Maude, above.
Breathe quickly
If a child is breathing very fast, the NHS will tell them to call 999.
This can be a sign of sepsis as the infection can cause a drop in blood pressure.
As a result, vital organs such as the brain do not get and deliver the blood and oxygen they need.
This can lead to rapid breathing.
For children under five who can talk, you may find that they have trouble saying more than a few words before they run out of breath.
Children may also make grunting noises and suck in their stomachs with each breath.
‘I failed in what I had to do… keep her alive’: Jason Watkins and wife Clara reveal heartbreak over daughter’s ‘avoidable’ death from sepsis
‘I failed in what I had to do… to keep her alive’: Jason Watkins and wife Clara reveal heartbreak over daughter’s ‘avoidable’ death from sepsis
Heartbreaking: Jason Watkins and Clara Francis open up about the heartbreaking death of their daughter Maudie as they reveal her death could have been prevented by sepsis
convulsion
A child may have a seizure or convulsions if they have sepsis.
This reaction can be caused by the brain not getting the essential blood it needs.
A febrile seizure is caused by fever and causes a child’s body to stiffen and the legs and arms to tremble.
During the attack, a child loses consciousness and may urinate in the mouth, vomit or foam at the mouth.
It usually takes less than five minutes.
Although this is not always a sign of anything serious, the NHS recommends going to the nearest hospital as a precaution.
Difficult to wake up
Children with sepsis may become very lethargic or struggle to wake up, warns the UK Sepsis Trust.
Like a cold or flu, sepsis can make people tired and lethargic.
But if a child has more and more trouble waking up, it could be a sign of sepsis.
This is because the brain and other vital organs are not getting the blood and oxygen they need due to the body’s extreme response to infection.
If the body continues to lack blood and oxygen, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
I stopped feeding
Babies and children under the age of five can show different signs of sepsis.
In addition to a skin rash or rapid breathing, children under the age of five may also have difficulty eating and drinking.
If a baby is not feeding, it could be a sign that they are in pain, discomfort or an illness that could be sepsis, warns the UK Sepsis Trust.
Other signs to look out for are a child who vomits repeatedly and does not urinate for 12 hours or more.
What are the main symptoms of sepsis? The “silent killer” that can cause death within minutes
Known as the “silent killer,” sepsis strikes when an infection such as septicemia triggers a violent immune response, in which the body attacks its own organs.
It is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by an infection or injury. According to the UK Sepsis Trust, around 245,000 people in the UK contract sepsis and 52,000 die from it every year.
Instead of attacking the invading bug, the body turns itself on and shuts down vital organs.
If detected early enough, it is easily treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, but it must be given as soon as sepsis is suspected – it strikes with frightening speed and for every hour delayed, a patient’s chance of death increases by 8 percent.
Sepsis is a leading cause of preventable death, killing 44,000 people each year
The early symptoms of sepsis can easily be confused with milder conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.
A high temperature (fever), chills and chills, a rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators.
A patient can deteriorate rapidly if sepsis is missed at an early stage, so prompt diagnosis and treatment is crucial – but this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be confused with a respiratory infection, flu or an upset stomach.
It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children under the age of one, people with chronic medical conditions or people with compromised immune systems.
The six signs of something potentially fatal can be identified by the acronym “SEPSIS”:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme chills or muscle aches
- Don’t pee for a day
- Severe shortness of breath
- Mottled or discolored skin
Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should see a doctor urgently—and doctors ask, “Could this be sepsis?”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
