Symptoms | Sepsis Alliance

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It’s important to look for a combination of the warning signs of sepsis. Spotting these symptoms early could prevent the body from entering septic shock, and could save a life.

T – Temperature higher or lower.

Your body’s temperature should stay fairly constant, around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), moving up or down a bit depending on your activity, the environment, and time of day. A temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) is considered to be hyperthermia, a fever. When you have an infection, your body’s temperature usually rises as it tries to fight off the bug causing the infection. Interestingly, some people see their body temperature go down (hypothermia) instead of up. This is why any change, high or low, can be a sign of sepsis.

I – Infection – may have signs and symptoms of an infection.

If you have a local infection, like a urinary tract infection, pneumonia, or an infected cut, the signs and symptoms are localized according to the area affected (needing to urinate or burning on urination for a UTI, coughing and chest pain for pneumonia, redness and pus for an infected cut, for example). If the infection has spread or you have a generalized infection, you may develop other signs and symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, pain, etc.

Sometimes however, you may have an infection and not know it, and not have any symptoms. Keep this in mind especially if you have recently had surgery or an invasive medical procedure, a break in your skin, or you have been exposed to someone who is ill.

M – Mental decline – confused, sleepy, difficult to rouse.

Sepsis can affect your mental status. Some people, especially the elderly, may not show typical signs of infection. Instead, they may show a sudden change in mental status, becoming confused, or a worsening of dementia and confusion. Sleepiness, often severe, is also a common complaint.

E – Extremely ill –  severe pain or discomfort, shortness of breath.

Many sepsis survivors have said that when they were ill, it was the worst they ever felt. It was the worst sore throat, worst abdominal pain, or they felt that they were going to die.

Children developing sepsis may exhibit different symptoms, as seen below.

Healthcare professionals look for the following signs and symptoms, as well as those listed above, to determine a diagnosis. They include:

Inflammatory

• High white blood cell count
• Immature white blood cells in the circulation
• Elevated plasma C-reactive protein
• Elevated procalcitonin (PCT)

Hemodynamic

• Low blood pressure
• Low central venous or mixed venous oxygen saturation
• High cardiac index

Organ Dysfunction

• Low oxygen level
• Low urine output
• High creatinine in the blood
• Coagulation (clotting) abnormalities
• Absent bowel sounds
• Low platelets in the blood
• High bilirubin levels

Tissue Perfusion

• High lactate in the blood
• Decreased capillary filling or mottling

Sepsis – Symptoms – HSE.

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Important

Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of an infection. It can be hard to tell that you have it.

Trust your instincts. If you or someone you look after has symptoms of sepsis or is very unwell, call 999 or 112, or go to an emergency department (ED).

Sepsis is a serious complication of an infection. Most cases of infection lead to a full recovery if it’s identified and treated quickly.

Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death

Emergency action required: Call 999 or 112 or go to an emergency department (ED) if a baby or child under-5:

• has blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
• has a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, in the same way you check for meningitis
• is being very sluggish, unusually sleepy and hard to wake
• feels unusually cold to touch
• has had no pee or wet nappies for more than 12 hours
• is breathing very fast
• has fits or convulsions
• has a weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
• has an infection, is still unwell after 24 hours or is getting worse – it may be sepsis

They may not have all these symptoms. Even if they have just 1, get urgent medical help.

Emergency action required: Call 999 or 112 or go to an ED if an adult or older child has had an infection and:

• is acting confused, slurring their speech, not making sense or not their usual self
• has difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
• blue or slightly blue lips
• pounding in their chest
• has hands and feet that feel cold, clammy and look pale
• feels dizzy, faint or loses consciousness (passes out)
• is not peeing as much as normal – for example, not peeing for a day
• has a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, in the same way you check for meningitis
• has severe muscle pain
• is complaining of severe leg pain or difficulty standing
• has an infection, is still unwell after 24 hours or is getting worse – it may be sepsis

They may not have all these symptoms. Even if they have just 1, get urgent medical help.

Signs and symptoms of sepsis

It’s not always easy to tell if you are developing sepsis. There are lots of possible symptoms. Symptoms can be vague. They can be like symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.

Sepsis cannot develop unless you have an infection. Read about the symptoms and signs of an infection.

Early signs of sepsis in babies and children under 5

Urgent advice: Contact your GP or your GP out of hours urgently if your baby or child has an infection and has:

• a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher in babies under 3 months
• a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius or higher in babies aged 3 to 6 months
• a temperature below 36 degrees Celsius – re-check after 5 minutes to confirm
• difficulty breathing, breathlessness or you notice their stomach moving in and out as they use their stomach muscles to help them breathe
• no interest in feeding (in babies)
• not drank anything for more than 8 hours when awake
• been vomiting repeatedly
• blood in their vomit or their vomit is green or black
• sunken eyes
• a bulging soft spot on their head
• no interest in anything, even with encouragement
• been less responsive, irritable or difficult to console
• a stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down
• been behaving differently than usual to the point that you are worried

If your GP thinks it’s sepsis, they will usually refer your baby or child to hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.

Early signs of sepsis in adults and older children

Sepsis cannot develop unless you have an infection.

Symptoms and signs of an infection

Urgent advice: Contact your GP or GP out of hours urgently if you or someone you care for has an infection and has:

• a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or above)
• low body temperature (below 36 degrees Celsius)
• chills and shivering
• a fast heartbeat
• problems with or changes to your breathing
• feeling or acting differently from normal
• vomiting
• a headache
• feeling unwell

Some of the symptoms of sepsis are similar to meningitis.

If your GP thinks it’s sepsis, they will usually refer you to hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.

Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE

This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123.

Page last reviewed: 3 October 2022

Next review due: 3 October 2025

9 signs of latent blood poisoning that you should know about

Sepsis often ends in tragedy. It is better to recognize it at the initial stage.

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Blood poisoning, or sepsis, is a dangerous disease that is usually diagnosed in the last stages. The disease can be defeated with the help of antibiotics, but most often the life of patients is cut short. And first of all, because doctors start treatment too late. Remember these important signals and tell your loved ones about them.

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Fever

Blood infection occurs when the infection has been able to enter the bloodstream. And, of course, the body begins to fight the intruder, sharply raising the body temperature. Be sure to consult a doctor if the temperature has been persisting for several days.

Very low temperature

Sometimes the body follows the opposite strategy and, conversely, lowers body temperature. The symptom is also serious and should not be delayed. According to doctors, blood poisoning with a low temperature is more dangerous than with a high one. Such sepsis is much more difficult to treat. In addition, the chances of subsequent complications are high.

Chills

High fever is often accompanied by intense and painful chills. Be sure to call an ambulance and report your condition. Often, chills cannot be identified during a medical examination.

Pain and aches in the body

Another sign of sepsis is pain and aches all over the body. Some confuse these symptoms with a cold or flu. But only a doctor can determine the exact cause of discomfort. Do not guess on your health!

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Low blood pressure

Not all homes have a special device to measure blood pressure, and in vain. One of the signs of sepsis is low blood pressure. It is better not to wait for this indicator, because it indicates a serious development of the disease. At an upper pressure below 100 points, dehydration of the vessels already occurs and septic shock begins.

Rapid pulse

Any reaction of the body to infection is a thoughtful step for salvation. An increased pulse indicates that the body is trying to speed up the flow of blood in order to expel the violator of the system. The critical mark is usually above 90 beats per minute. Act urgently.

Shortness of breath

Call 911 immediately if you notice severe shortness of breath. Very often, blood poisoning begins due to pneumonia. The body receives a critically insufficient amount of air, so it tries to make up for the deficiency by frequent breathing. As sepsis develops, shortness of breath progresses. It is important to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Paleness

Paleness is another sign of blood poisoning. The fact is that the body is trying to save the brain and heart by “taking” blood from less important organs. The skin is the first to be hit and begins to turn pale. Then small spots and cold sweat appear on the skin. If you notice several dangerous symptoms at once, be sure to call your doctor.

Weakness and drowsiness

The last symptom is common to many diseases. In the moments of fighting an infection, the body is not easy. Patients with low blood pressure feel especially weak.

The best ways to prevent illness are prevention and regular medical check-ups. Sometimes minor changes can indicate a deficiency of nutrients in the body, and sometimes serious diseases. Consult your doctors regularly to stay healthy.

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