Pediatric Sepsis Week (April 18 - 24, 2021) is an annual observance to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis in children. Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Sepsis is an urgent, life-threatening, medical emergency and its symptoms must be treated rapidly to reduce the risk of death.
Sepsis is the leading cause of death of young children and babies worldwide. In the U.S, 75,000 children develop sepsis each year — that’s 200 children per day.
The signs of sepsis in a child are different than in an adult and include:
- Feels abnormally cold to touch
- Looks mottled, bluish, or has very pale skin
- Has a rash that does not fade when pressed
- Is breathing very fast
- Has a convulsion
- Is very lethargic or difficult to wake
Additionally, for a child under 5 years who:
- Is not drinking or feeding
- Is vomiting repeatedly
- Has not urinated in 12 hours
“Sepsis in the pediatric patient can be sneaky and elusive,” said Jacques Burgess, MD. “True pediatric sepsis is what I refer to as low volume high risk, so we must remain alert and attentive. Our primary objective must be to remain vigilant and maintain a Questioning Attitude with each child’s presenting symptoms. We must consistently ask ourselves, ‘Could this be sepsis or why is this not sepsis?’”
While the symptoms of sepsis in a child may be different in an adult, the treatment approach is the same and must be initiated as soon as possible. When it comes to sepsis, whether in a child or an adult, it is vital to Recognize, Respond, and Reassess to quickly save a life.
Read more about sepsis on the Munson Healthcare Connection blog.