Our Services A - Z - Sepsis
About the service
Sepsis is a common and potentially life threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. The organs, such as the kidneys, lungs, heart or brain may “suffer” as a consequence.
Sepsis is serious, but diagnosing it quickly and giving antimicrobials early can help prevent it becoming more severe.
Sepsis is caused by infection in the body and some of the common sources are:
- Chest infection
- Urinary infection
- Brain infection
- Abdominal infection
- Skin, soft tissue infection
- Bone or joint infection
Any of these infections can lead the body to have an adverse reaction and organs may start to “suffer”.
- What are the symptoms?
Call 111 or contact your GP if you are worried about an infection.
Call 999 or visit A&E if you or someone else has one of the sepsis symptoms and Just Ask: Could it be Sepsis?
How to spot sepsis in adults
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine (in a day)
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you’re going to die
- Skin mottled or discoloured
A child may have sepsis if they:
- Are breathing very fast
- Have a ‘fit’ or convulsion
- Look mottled, bluish, or pale — on darker pigmented skin, colour changes may show on the inside of the forearms or palms
- Have a rash that does not fade when you press it
- Are very lethargic or difficult to wake
- Feel abnormally cold to touch
A child under 5 may have sepsis if they:
- Are not feeding
- Are vomiting repeatedly
- Have not passed urine for 12 hours
- How is sepsis diagnosed?
There is no single sign or diagnostic test for sepsis. Sepsis always begins with an infection (such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection), but it’s unpredictable who will go on to develop sepsis. While it can affect anyone, the way sepsis presents can vary and it can mimic other conditions, so it can be difficult to spot. If infection is suspected a doctor or nurse will risk assess for sepsis with the aid of assessment tools by checking your observations, such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen levels. These observations will help health professionals assess for organ dysfunction and if at risk sepsis treatment will be started.
Sometimes you will need to have blood tests and x-rays to confirm infection and how serious it is.
- What treatment is given in hospital for sepsis?
If sepsis is identified by your GP, you may need to come to hospital. If you are at home and think you may have sepsis and feel unwell you should attend hospital or call 999 in an emergency.
Treatment in hospital is commenced rapidly. This will include an assessment, intravenous fluids through a drip if appropriate, antimicrobials, oxygen if required, blood tests, and other tests and interventions like x-rays.
If deemed moderate risk, health professionals may want to await blood results or investigations before deciding about treatment options.
Sepsis can be overwhelming, but can be treated quickly. Some patients may require close monitoring and some may need to go to the Intensive Care Unit. In A&E, you will be escalated to a clinician to assess and treat if appropriate. Once this has happened your care will be followed up by a specialist medical or surgical team if you are admitted into hospital.
- Who is most at risk of developing sepsis?
People who are at increased risk of developing sepsis are people who are on chemotherapy, on immunosuppressant medication, or are pregnant/ recently given birth. The very young and the elderly are also at risk, and anyone with catheters or IV cannulas, or recent invasive surgical procedures.
- Are there any long term effects of Sepsis?
Usually a full recovery is expected from sepsis given timely treatment. Sometimes some organs may not function as well as they did before. This should be discussed by the discharging doctor in each individual’s case.
- Support and Advice
There are a number of organisations that provide support and advice for people and their families, who have had a diagnosis of sepsis, including:
- Tel: 0800 389 6255
- Email: info@sepsistrust.org/
Page last updated on 29th January 2026