Around 250,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with sepsis every year, of those around 50,000 die. Sepsis can be hard to recognise and diagnose. Here, the charity Sepsis Research FEAT explain five of the key symptoms to look out for...
High or low temperature
Sepsis can cause a patient to develop a high fever as part of the body’s immune response. In some cases, a patient will develop a low body temperature (hypothermia) instead. Hypothermia during sepsis is considered very dangerous. There’s an increased risk of death than when a patient develops a fever.
Uncontrolled shivering
This is one of the body’s responses to fighting an infection. Sepsis can cause a drop in body temperature and severe shivering, also known as rigors, is the body trying to increase its temperature.
Confusion
Sepsis can cause acute inflammation and swelling making it difficult to breathe, resulting in a drop in oxygen levels. Low levels of oxygen in the blood can cause mental confusion and delirium.
Passing little urine
As sepsis progresses, blood pressure may become very low, which means that not enough blood and oxygen can reach the body’s organs. This can lead to organ failure. When kidneys start to fail it can lead to a drop in urine output.
Blotchy or cold arms and legs
During sepsis, the clotting mechanism works overtime. Nutrients cannot get to the tissues in the fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet and legs and the body’s tissues begin to die. At first, the skin may look mottled or blotchy and may appear bluish. In severe cases of sepsis, the areas of dead skin can turn black and limbs may need to be amputated.
• On their own, some of these symptoms can be an indication of other health problems. But a combination of two or more of these symptoms, becoming progressively worse, means you need to seek urgent medical attention. Call 999 or go to A&E. For more information about sepsis, or to make a donation, visit sepsisresearch.org.uk