New Australian research is calling for more accurate measures to help diagnose the life-threatening condition in children.
An estimated 50 infants and children die as a result of sepsis every year in Australia, with the condition accounting for around 500 paediatric intensive care admissions annually.
But cases can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in the early stages, with symptoms often non-specific and mimicking those of common illnesses, such as a cold or influenza.
To help overcome this and assist with diagnosis, the Society of Critical Care Medicine Pediatric Sepsis Definition Task Force created the Phoenix Sepsis Score in January 2024 as part of an update to the paediatric sepsis criteria.
However, new research says the clinical tool fails to detect the majority of those requiring hospital care.
