Sepsis is a serious, life-threatening reaction to an infection. It causes inflammation across large areas of the body and can damage tissue and organs. Sepsis needs emergency medical treatment in a hospital. Septic shock is sepsis that causes extremely low blood pressure, which limits blood flow to the body. It can cause death.
What causes it?
Most of the time, sepsis is caused by a bacterial infection. It can also be caused by a fungal or viral infection.
Infections that can lead to sepsis include:
A skin infection such as from a cut.
A lung infection like pneumonia.
A urinary tract infection (UTI).
An infection in the organs or intestines of the belly, such as E. coli.
Some infants, children with immune system problems, and those being treated for cancer may be more likely to get sepsis.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of sepsis can include breathing problems, a fever, or shivering. Infants may have a bulging soft spot on their head, urinate less, and show no interest in feeding. Your child may have cool clammy skin or pain. If your child has symptoms of sepsis, go to the hospital right away for medical treatment.
How is it treated?
Sepsis is treated with medicines to fight the infection that led to sepsis.
Machines will track your child's vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, and pulse rate. Your child will get fluids through a vein (intravenous, I.V.). Your child may also get other medicines to help with their blood pressure and pulse.
Children with sepsis might need to be treated in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for several days or weeks so they can be closely monitored.
Equipment in the PICU can support your child's body systems. These include breathing, blood flow, fluids, and help for organs like the kidneys and heart. If your child needs help breathing, a ventilator may be used.
What else can you expect?
Your child may start new treatments while still in the hospital. Different doctors may help with different symptoms.
If your child needs to be treated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), the staff will do everything they can to treat all of the problems sepsis causes, including the infection. The PICU is often busier than other places in the hospital. There's more medical staff on duty and more equipment, blinking lights, and noise. The staff will help you understand what all of this equipment does.
You can expect a long recovery after your child leaves the PICU. Friends and family can help give you support. You can also ask the hospital staff about counseling and other support for yourself and other family members, including children.
It's important to follow your doctor's instructions to help your child avoid infections so that your child doesn't get sepsis again.
Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and contact your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
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Clinical Review Board All WebMD Ignite education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
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The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.
