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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/03/sepsis-how-parents-and-professionals-can-spot-the-symptoms
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Sepsis: how parents and professionals can spot the symptoms | Sepsis: how parents and professionals can spot the symptoms |
| (4 months later) | |
| Identifying sepsis is a challenge for parents, carers and health professionals alike. It is often mistaken for flu, which can lead to a correct diagnosis coming too late. | Identifying sepsis is a challenge for parents, carers and health professionals alike. It is often mistaken for flu, which can lead to a correct diagnosis coming too late. |
| Sepsis deaths in overcrowded, understaffed hospitals rise by a third | |
| Acknowledgement of such difficulties prompted a nationwide campaign in 2016 to help parents spot the signs of sepsis, involving the distribution of millions of leaflets to GP surgeries and hospitals. | Acknowledgement of such difficulties prompted a nationwide campaign in 2016 to help parents spot the signs of sepsis, involving the distribution of millions of leaflets to GP surgeries and hospitals. |
| In April NHS Improvement issued a patient safety alert telling England’s 134 acute hospital trusts and 10 ambulance services to do more to spot signs of a patient’s deterioration, amid concerns the condition was not being picked up quickly enough. | In April NHS Improvement issued a patient safety alert telling England’s 134 acute hospital trusts and 10 ambulance services to do more to spot signs of a patient’s deterioration, amid concerns the condition was not being picked up quickly enough. |
| Sepsis occurs when the body is overwhelmed by infection, although it can start from something as simple as a cut or a bite. Symptoms vary according to age, although some overlap age groups. | Sepsis occurs when the body is overwhelmed by infection, although it can start from something as simple as a cut or a bite. Symptoms vary according to age, although some overlap age groups. |
| A child under five may have sepsis if they are not feeding, vomiting repeatedly or have not passed urine for 12 hours, according to the UK Sepsis Trust. | A child under five may have sepsis if they are not feeding, vomiting repeatedly or have not passed urine for 12 hours, according to the UK Sepsis Trust. |
| For older children, the trust says symptoms include rapid breathing; convulsing or having a fit; a mottled, blueish or pale complexion; a rash that does not fade when pressed; lethargy or difficulty in waking; or feeling abnormally cold to touch. | For older children, the trust says symptoms include rapid breathing; convulsing or having a fit; a mottled, blueish or pale complexion; a rash that does not fade when pressed; lethargy or difficulty in waking; or feeling abnormally cold to touch. |
| Among adults, signs are slurred speech or confusion; extreme shivering or muscle pain; passing no urine in a day; severe breathlessness; or mottled or discoloured skin. | Among adults, signs are slurred speech or confusion; extreme shivering or muscle pain; passing no urine in a day; severe breathlessness; or mottled or discoloured skin. |
| My son died of sepsis. He'd still be alive if I'd known what it was | |
| In April, NHS Improvement said it had ordered all trusts to adopt an updated version of the national early warning score (News) system by March next year, amid concerns that different hospitals were using different approaches to identify the condition. | In April, NHS Improvement said it had ordered all trusts to adopt an updated version of the national early warning score (News) system by March next year, amid concerns that different hospitals were using different approaches to identify the condition. |
| Six simple physiological parameters form the basis of the scoring system: respiration rate, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, level of consciousness or new confusion, and temperature. | Six simple physiological parameters form the basis of the scoring system: respiration rate, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, level of consciousness or new confusion, and temperature. |
| The score is then used by doctors and nurses to record a patient’s vital signs. NHS England said it could save almost 2,000 lives and 627,000 bed days each year. | The score is then used by doctors and nurses to record a patient’s vital signs. NHS England said it could save almost 2,000 lives and 627,000 bed days each year. |
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