It’s important that patients, their families and caregivers think about sepsis as a possibility. Get Ahead of Sepsis reminds us all of the importance of early recognition, timely treatment, and preventing infections.
- Sepsis is a medical emergency. Time matters. If you or your loved one suspects sepsis or has an infection that’s not getting better or is getting worse, consider seeking immediate help.
- Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can lead to sepsis. Certain people are at higher risk, including adults 65 or older, people with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, and kidney disease, people with weakened immune systems, sepsis survivors, and children younger than one.
When detected early, the treatment for sepsis typically involves broad spectrum antibiotics to fight the infection, fluids to prevent dehydration and kidney dysfunction, and oxygen if required. Down the line, a more focused antibiotic can be given once the specific bacterium has been identified.
THE SYMPTOMS – IN ADULTS
Seek medical help urgently if you (or another adult) develop any or one of the following:
- 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
For more details on sepsis symptoms, please visit our sepsis symptoms page.
Treatment for sepsis
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.
You may need other tests or treatments depending on your symptoms, including:
- Treatment in an intensive care unit
- A machine to help you breathe (ventilator)
- Surgery to remove areas of infection
You may need to stay in hospital for several weeks.
Recovering from sepsis
Most people make a full recovery from sepsis. But it can take time.
You might continue to have physical and emotional symptoms. These can last for months, or even years, after you had sepsis.
These long-term effects are sometimes called post-sepsis syndrome, and can include:
- Feeling very tired and weak, and difficulty sleeping
- Lack of appetite
- Getting ill more often
- Changes in your mood, or anxiety or depression
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
If you think you or someone you look after has symptoms of sepsis, call 999, 111 or go to A&E.
Trust your instincts!
For further advice or information, please contact us or visit our blog for more updates.