Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency in which the body's reaction to an infection starts to injure its own tissues and organs. It was once called septicaemia or "blood poisoning", but sepsis is the current clinical term. The infection may begin in the lungs, urinary tract, abdomen, skin or bloodstream; bacteria are the usual cause, with viruses, fungi and parasites less often. Anyone can develop it, but the risk is higher at the extremes of age, in pregnancy, after surgery, and in people with cancer, diabetes, long-term illness or a weakened immune system. Warning signs include fast breathing, a racing pulse, new confusion or drowsiness, severe pain, fever or an unusually low temperature, mottled or pale skin, and passing little or no urine. When blood pressure falls and organs begin to fail, the condition is called septic shock. Diagnosis rests on clinical scoring, blood tests (lactate, cultures, kidney and liver function) and imaging to locate the source. Treatment should start within the first hour: broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, intravenous fluids, oxygen and control of the source, with noradrenaline or another vasopressor if shock persists. WHO estimates roughly 49 million cases and 11 million deaths each year worldwide, so early recognition saves lives.

Seek urgent care for a high fever with a stiff neck, rash, confusion, difficulty breathing, or fever after travel to a malaria area. See a doctor when a fever lasts more than three days, when symptoms return after treatment, or when you may have been exposed to an infection that needs testing. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.