Friday the 13th of September is World Sepsis Day 2019.

This is a topic relevant that is very relevant to many of us as parents; sepsis is a condition that can sometimes occur during or after childbirth, and it’s also a condition that babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to. Awareness is absolutely key here; education about the signs, symptoms and where to seek help can make all the difference. Because of this, we’re going to be sharing the most up to date information on sepsis with you.

What is Sepsis?

In the developed world, sepsis rates are increasing by an annual rate of 8-13% globally and now kills more people than breast cancer and bowel cancer combined – despite being one of the most common dangerous illnesses (around 30,000,000 people get sepsis a year globally!) there is still a massive lack of awareness leading to people missing out on vital treatment that could save their lives.

Sepsis is a life threatening reaction to an infection. The NHS website has shared the following information about the symptoms of sepsis;

blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or rapid breathing
a weak, high-pitched cry that doesn’t sound like their usual cry
not responding like they usually do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake up

They may not have all these symptoms.

Call 999 or go to A&E if an adult or older child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:

acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast

They may not have all these symptoms.

Call 111 if:

You, your child or someone you look after:

feels very unwell or like there’s something seriously wrong
has not had a pee all day (for adults and older children) or in the last 12 hours (for babies and young children)
keeps vomiting and cannot keep any food or milk down (for babies and young children)
has swelling, redness or pain around a cut or wound
has a very high or low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivering

Don’t worry if you’re not sure if it’s sepsis – it’s still best to seek urgent medical attention by calling 111 who can arrange for an appointment or call you an ambulance if it’s deemed necessary.

What is World Sepsis Day?

World Sepsis Day is a global awareness initiative promoted by the Global Sepsis Alliance, medical professionals, and organisations around the world to bring the topic of sepsis to the forefront of public attention. This allows for the widespread sharing of updated information and the reiteration of vital facts about sepsis that could be life saving.

Get involved by…

Sharing posts about sepsis that you see on social media; the more these posts are shared, the more people who see them and become aware of sepsis. Use the hashtag #WorldSepsisDay
If you’re able to hold an event, you can access resources here.
Share your story if you’ve experienced sepsis.
Donate to a sepsis charity of your choosing.
Sign the Global Sepsis Declaration – it’s similar to a petition and aimed at showing support for the 2020 declaration to reduce sepsis deaths by 20% by 2020.

Real Sepsis Stories From Real Parents

A lot of parents in our online community have experienced sepsis, or have a child who has experienced sepsis. They’ve very kindly shared their stories with us to help raise awareness and inform as many people as possible!