Recognising the signs and symptoms of sepsis
To help parents/carers recognise the symptoms of sepsis, a nationwide campaign has been launched by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.The campaign is aimed to help parents and carers protect their young children. Why not watch this film featuring campaigner Melissa Mead who lost her baby son to sepsis. Leaflets and posters are being distributed to GP Surgeries and hospitals up and down the country to help make parents more aware of this condition. By displaying posters and handing out leaflets it will help parents look out for any of the following signs:
- is the child very lethargic or difficult to wake
- do they feel abnormally cold to touch
- is their breathing very fast
- do they look mottled, blush or pale
- do they have a rash that does not fade when you press it
- has a fit or convulsion
Sepsis can be life-threatening if not treated immediately, organs can start to fail which could lead to death. Therefore making parents/carers more aware of this condition is essential.
Further measures are already being undertaken by the NHS; this includes at risk patients being screened for this condition and treatment given.
For further information on sepsis, visit www.nhs.uk/sepsis or www.sepsistrust.org.