There are an estimated 245,000 cases of life-threatening sepsis in the UK every year, and it claims more lives than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined.
But the condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages because it can mimic common illnesses such as flu, food poisoning or a chest infection.
Sepsis is a medical emergency. Experts warn the risk of death rises by around eight per cent for every hour treatment with antibiotics is delayed.
If it is not caught quickly, the condition can progress to septic shock, leading to organ failure and death.
Several high-profile figures have helped raise awareness of the illness, including former football manager Harry Redknapp, who backed campaigns by the UK Sepsis Trust after his wife Sandra survived a severe bout of the condition in 2018.
Sepsis always starts with an infection – commonly a chest infection, urinary tract infection or skin infection.
But doctors still do not fully understand why some people develop the condition while others recover normally.
It can affect anyone, although the risk is higher in babies, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems.
Because there is no single diagnostic test, the NHS and the UK Sepsis Trust advise looking for a combination of symptoms, often summarised by the acronym SEPSIS:
Slurred speech or confusion
Slurred speech or sudden, acute confusion is a critical symptom of sepsis.
This symptom happens due to sepsis-associated encephalopathy, leading to reduced consciousness, ranging from confusion and delirium to coma.
A rapid change in mental state, such as disorientation or not making sense, is a primary indicator.
Sepsis can cause cognitive impairment, reduced awareness and difficulty with coordination.
Extreme shivering or muscle pain
Extreme shivering, fever, and severe muscle pain are early warning signs of sepsis. These symptoms often feel like severe flu.
Passing no urine in a day
Passing no urine in a day is a critical red-flag symptom of sepsis, indicating potential kidney failure or severe shock.
It suggests the body is struggling with a severe infection, which requires immediate emergency medical attention.
Severe breathlessness
Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast could be a sign of sepsis.
Sepsis-related breathing issues include rapid, shallow breathing, extreme breathlessness, grunting noises or pauses in breathing.
This occurs because the body is struggling to get oxygen to organs as the immune system overreacts to infection.
Feeling like you’re going to die
A profound, overwhelming feeling that you are going to die, often described as a sense of ‘impending doom’, is a recognised, critical symptom of sepsis.
Skin that’s mottled or discoloured
Mottled, blotchy, pale, or bluish skin indicates that the body’s blood circulation is failing and oxygen is not reaching the skin properly.
The skin may look patchy, marble-like, or have a lace-like pattern of red, blue, or purple spots/streaks.
While it can appear anywhere, it is frequently seen on the legs, hands, and feet.
On brown or black skin, this mottling may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
Sepsis may also cause a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it, similar to meningitis.
Signs of sepsis in children
Symptoms can be harder to recognise in babies and young children.
According to the NHS, warning signs in under-fives include:
- vomiting repeatedly
- not feeding
- not urinating for 12 hours
- breathing very fast
- seizures or convulsions
- mottled, bluish or pale skin
- a rash that does not fade when pressed
- being very lethargic or difficult to wake
- feeling unusually cold to the touch
Symptoms of sepsis in children may include breathing fast and fits or convulsions
Who is most at risk?
Anyone can develop sepsis, but the risk is higher for people who:
- have recently had surgery
- have a urinary catheter
- have spent a long time in hospital
- have weakened immune systems
- are undergoing chemotherapy
- are pregnant
- are very young or elderly
Anyone experiencing possible symptoms should seek urgent medical help and ask doctors: ‘Could this be sepsis?’
How is sepsis treated?
Sepsis must be treated in hospital immediately because the condition can worsen rapidly.
Patients should ideally receive antibiotics within one hour of diagnosis, although guidelines allow up to six hours in some circumstances.
Treatment usually includes intravenous antibiotics, IV fluids and oxygen if needed.
Some patients require weeks in hospital, particularly if organs have been affected. However, many people make a full recovery with prompt treatment.
