Sepsis can become deadly very quickly in children. "Once you have sepsis, every 30 minutes that goes by that you don't treat the infection, bacteria double." says Joseph A. Carcillo, M.D., professor of critical care medicine and pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh. So within hours, the child can be very ill. If you suspect sepsis, seek emergency medical attention. Caught early enough, most sepsis cases are treatable.
These are the signs and symptoms and how it progresses.
Healthy
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Infection acquired
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Bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal infection
Fever, altered mental state
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Simple sepsis |
Extreme pain or discomfort
Vasodialation, leaky blood vessels, clots
SIRS - Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
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Severe sepsis |
Nausea and vomiting
Rapid pulse
Circulatory collapse
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Septic shock |
MODS - Multi-organ Dysfunction Syndrome
Requires one of the following:
- feeble pulse
- pale or discolored skin
- shortness of breath
- shivering
- abnormal hearth functions
- noticeably lower amounts of urine
- confusion or weakness
Significant blood pressure drop
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Death
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Learn more about the complexity of diagnosing and treating pediatric sepsis in the article Sepsis: Battling a Leading Cause of Death in Hospitalized Children.