Seven symptoms of deadly disease that can lead to organ failure and death
Sepsis is a dangerous condition that occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and begins attacking its own tissues and organs. If it's not treated quickly, sepsis can lead to organ failure, tissue loss and death.
According to The UK Sepsis Trust charity, the condition affects 245,000 people a year in the UK, with at least 48,000 people dying from sepsis-related illnesses annually – which is more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer combined. And there are certain types of people who are at greater risk of catching and dying from sepsis.
Research led by a team at the University of Manchester, who analysed NHS data from 224,000 cases of sepsis in England between January 2019 and June 2022, found that people from the most deprived communities were 80 per cent more likely to develop sepsis compared to people from the least deprived.
People who have a "history of extensive antibiotic exposure", or who have a learning disability, are also at a higher risk. Those with chronic liver disease have a three-fold increased risk of developing sepsis, while those with chronic kidney disease had an increased risk which was two to six times higher than the general population, depending on the stage of their disease.
Underweight or obese people and smokers also appeared more vulnerable. But sepsis does not always have to be fatal – but catching and treating it early is vital. Here are some of the sepsis warning signs and symptoms everyone needs to know about.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Blotchy or cold arms and legs
According to Colin Graham, chief operating officer at Sepsis Research FEAT, during a sepsis crisis, the clotting mechanism in the body tends to work overtime. Due to oxygen and nutrients not being able to reach tissue throughout the body, cells can begin to die. The skin may begin to look mottled or blotchy and may appear blueish. Furthermore, areas of dead skin may turn black - limbs may need to be amputated in severe cases.
Rapid heartbeat
The heart-rate may quicken, along with difficulty breathing, as the arteries starting to dilate or widen. This causes a drop in blood pressure, forcing the heart to work harder to push the blood through at a normal pressure.
Uncontrolled shivering
The temperature in your body can drop significantly if you are suffering from sepsis. This can cause severe shivering, which is an indication that your body is trying to fight the infection and warm itself up.
High/low temperature
As part of the body’s immune response, sepsis can cause someone to develop a high fever. But in some cases, they’ll develop a low body temperature (hypothermia) instead. Graham said: "Hypothermia during sepsis is considered very dangerous. There’s more risk of fatality than when a patient develops a fever."
Confusion
Sepsis can cause acute inflammation and swelling, making it difficult to breathe, which can lead to a drop in oxygen level. According to Graham, "low levels of oxygen in the blood can cause mental confusion and delirium".
Passing little urine
As sepsis progresses around the body, your blood pressure may reduce drastically, which means not enough blood and oxygen reaches the organs. This can result in organ failure and, when kidneys start to fail, it can lead to a drop in urine output.
It's important to remember that these symptoms can be signs of other health concerns. But, if someone develops a combination of two or more of these warning signs, and especially if symptoms get progressively worse and somebody seems unwell, it’s important to seek urgent medical attention – call 999 or go to A&E. For every hour treatment is delayed, the chance of survival reduces by over 7 per cent.
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