What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening uncontrolled immune response to an infection, causing the body to damage its own tissues and organs. Sepsis can be triggered by any type of infection, whether bacterial, viral, fungal, or caused by other germs (pathogens). Sepsis needs urgent and quick treatment with antibiotics, intravenous fluids and other supportive measures.
Could It Be Sepsis?
Seek medical help urgently if you or your loved one develops any or one of the following:
Slurred speech or confusion, or difficult to wake
Extreme shivering or muscle pain
Passing no urine (pee/mimi) for a day
Severe breathlessness or breathing very fast
It feels like you are going to die
Skin mottled, bluish, or pale or feels abnormally cold to touch (especially in children)
Sepsis Signs for Children
There is no single sign and no single diagnostic test for sepsis. Urgent medical help is needed for a child developing any of these signs:
Convulsions or fits
Rapid breathing
A rash that doesn’t fade when you press it
Fever or very low temperature
Discoloured or mottled skin, very pale or bluish
Not passing urine for several hours
Hard to wake, lethargic or floppy
Feels abnormally cold to touch
The parent believes the child is extremely unwell
Sepsis Signs for Adults
There is no single sign and no single diagnostic test for sepsis. Urgent medical help is needed for an adult developing any of these signs:
A Key Message about Signs and Symptoms
Not all symptoms need to be present and may be mild. People often say they feel like they are going to die, but remember, children may not be able to express this feeling, making it even harder to recognise. If there is uncertainty about the cause of an illness and ongoing concern, then seek advice immediately, or if getting worse, go to an Emergency Department as quickly as possible or call an ambulance. Critical illness from sepsis is preventable if detected and treated quickly, like a heart attack or stroke - early intervention saves lives.
Sepsis doesn’t care who you are - or what you do…
Paige was a healthy young nurse working in a busy emergency department…listen to how she became a sepsis statistic, one of up to 50,000 Kiwis who contract sepsis annually…
Who is at risk?
Anyone is at risk of developing sepsis from any infection at any time. Sepsis always starts with an infection, which could be a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. It’s not known why the immune response of some people develop sepsis in response to infections whereas others don’t.
Some people are at higher risk of infection and sepsis including:
Infants, neonates, and children under 15 years of age.
Adults over 60 years of age.
Pregnant or recently pregnant women
Māori or Pacific ethnicity
Socio-economic disadvantage
Previous sepsis event
Recently discharged from hospital
Immunocompromised people
Māori and Pacific people and individuals living in poverty are also at greater risk of developing sepsis in New Zealand. Increasing our sepsis awareness will help us all see the signs to ensure quick treatment.
4.2 million
Children die of sepsis each year globally.
$11,000
The average cost of a hospital admission with sepsis in New Zealand
80%
The proportion of sepsis cases which originate in the community.
11 million
Number of people that die of sepsis each year globally.
Contact Info
Helpful Links
With thanks to funders
ACC
Potter Trust
Nelson Pine Industries Limited
