Sepsis

Symptoms

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Slurred speech or confusion

Extreme shivering or muscle pain

Passing no urine for a day

Severe breathlessness

It feels like you are going to die

Skin mottled or discoloured

Key points

Sepsis infections can happen at any age.

Requires imitate attention and treatment or can lead to organ failure

Is the boys response to an infection

thousands of people around the world die from untreated sepsis

What causes sepsis?

Sepsis is causes by an infection that occurs in the body which the immune system is working to fight which releases a high amount of proteins and chemicals which result in the immune system shutting down the organs which can cause permanent damage.

People at risk of sepsis

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are very young or very old

are taking steroids long-term or medicines to treat cancer (chemotherapy)

have had an organ transplant and are on anti-rejection medicines

have a long-standing (chronic) disease such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or kidney disease

have severe liver disease

have HIV or leukaemia

have recently had surgery

have wounds or injuries as a result of an accident

have drips or catheters attached to your skin

are pregnant or have just given birth.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the sight of the infection and is usually treated with antibiotics, fluids and oxygen.