These are the common signs and symptoms of sepsis that you need to know about

Sepsis is a serious condition that can be fatal if it isn’t spotted and treated quickly. But what causes sepsis and what are the common signs and symptoms?

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a serious complication of an infection and, without quick treatment, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Sepsis can be triggered by an infection in any part of the body, with the most common sites being the lungs, urinary tract, abdomen and pelvis.

What causes sepsis?

Your immune system usually keeps an infection limited to one place, known as a localised infection, but if your immune system is weak or an infection is particularly severe, it can quickly spread through the blood into other parts of the body.

This then causes the immune system to go into overdrive and the inflammation then affects the entire body.

Everyone is potentially at risk of developing sepsis from minor infections, but some people are more at risk of sepsis, including:

babies younger than 1 yearpeople over 75people who are frailpeople with diabetespeople with weak immune systemspeople who are having chemotherapy treatmentwomen who have just given birth or recently been pregnant (including those who have had a miscarriage or abortion)people who have recently had surgerypeople who have recently had a serious illness

Sepsis is also a particular risk for those already in hospital because of another serious illness.

What are the common signs and symptoms of Sepsis?