Get sepsis savvy - know the signs

Public health advice: Sepsis is a life threatening condition. It can be hard to spot. Know the signs.

The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that there are at least 245,000 cases of sepsis in the UK every year, with up to 48,000 deaths in the UK every year. 

Sepsis is serious. It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.

You cannot catch sepsis from another person.

There are lots of possible symptoms. They can be like symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.

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

Check full symptoms in adults, children and babies here.

Prevention

It's not always possible to prevent sepsis.

There are things you can do to help prevent infections that can lead to sepsis.

• keep up to date with vaccines, particularly for babies, children, older people and pregnant women

• clean and care for any wounds

• take antibiotics correctly – follow the instructions and take all your prescribed antibiotics, even if you feel better

• wash your hands regularly and teach children how to wash their hands well

• do not ignore symptoms of sepsis. 

Treatment 

Sepsis needs treatment in hospital straight away because it can get worse quickly.

You should get antibiotics within 1 hour of arriving at hospital.

If sepsis is not treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause your organs to fail. This is life threatening.

Find out more about the condition, support and resource here: The UK Sepsis Trust 

Play the Sepsis Savvy game