Spotlight on Paediatric Sepsis
Sepsis occurs in children when they get and infection and their immune system doesn’t respond as it should. The abnormal immune response can damage their organs which can be life threatening.
July 22, 2025
CHI at Crumlin
News
Signs and symptoms
Sepsis can develop from any infection and can affect anyone, but it is more common in the very young, the elderly, people with pre-existing medical conditions or those with a weakened immune system. Sepsis is difficult to diagnose as it can be easily confused with other conditions early on.
It is important to be familiar with the signs and symptoms, and to ask the question ‘Could it be Sepsis?’
The most commonly reported symptoms of Sepsis include:
- Slurred speech, confusion, excessive drowsiness
- Excessive sleepiness or drowsiness, confusion
- Pain or discomfort in the muscles or joints, passing very little or no urine
- Severe breathlessness, a racing heart, shivering, fever, feeling very cold
- “I feel like I’m going to die”
- Skin changes like pale, cold, discoloured skin or a rash that won’t fade when pressed on
In children the signs to look out for include:
- abnormally cold to the touch
- looks mottled , bluish or pale
- breathing very fast
- is unusually sleepy and difficult to wake
- has a rash that does not fade when you press it
- having fits or convulsions
Also in children under 5 specifically:
- not feeding
- vomiting repeatedly
- has not had a wet nappy in last 12 hours