What is sepsis? Is your child at risk? Let's find out for sure!

You've probably heard or seen the word 'sepsis'. It's a scary word, but it's important to know about it, especially when you have young children. Simply put, sepsis is a medical emergency in which our body's immune system overreacts to an infection and damages our own organs.

What is Sepsis, simply put?

Imagine, when a germ, that is, an infection, enters our body, a part of our body like a soldier, that is, the immune system , fights this infection, right? This is normal. But in sepsis, what happens is that this immune system's fight gets a little out of control, becomes overactive, and starts damaging not only the infection, but also the good cells, tissues, and organs of our own body. It's like shooting yourself in the middle of a war.

This condition can cause blood pressure to drop significantly , which we call ``Septic Shock''. This is very dangerous for life. Sepsis can damage major organs such as our kidneys, lungs, brain, and heart , and can affect the blood clotting system. Sometimes it can even lead to death. That is why sepsis is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment . If you recognize its symptoms early, you can get treatment quickly and avoid a major accident.

What are the symptoms of sepsis? How do you recognize it?

This is where it gets a little tricky. The symptoms of sepsis can sometimes be very similar to those of common childhood illnesses like the flu or cold. So it can sometimes be difficult to recognize.

The most important thing is to trust your gut feeling as a mother or father. If your child seems sicker than usual, or if you notice something strange or different, don't ignore it.

A single symptom is not enough to tell for sure if you have sepsis . However, if you see several of these symptoms at once, you should suspect that it may be sepsis:

• High fever, chills, or a severe drop in body temperature.
• Rapid breathing , shallow breathing (appearing to be labored breathing).
• Rapid heartbeat, as if the heart has just run (this can happen even when there is no fever).
• Sweating, skin discoloration ( paleness , spots appearing in places).
• Urine ( urine)) Decreased amount of urine or decreased number of urinations per day.
• Feeling more sleepy than usual, difficulty waking up, and confusion.
• Complaining of severe body pain (young babies who cannot talk may cry non-stop).

Imagine, your baby has a fever for two or three days. His breathing is getting faster and faster, he's not drinking milk, and he's just sleepy. In that case, you definitely need to see a doctor right away.

Why does sepsis occur? What are the causes?

Sepsis begins with an infection in the body caused by a germ. These germs can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

Normally, when we have an infection, our body produces certain chemicals to fight it. These chemicals usually work only at the site of the infection. But in sepsis, these chemicals get into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, damaging other healthy organs as well.

Who is at higher risk of developing sepsis?

Sepsis can occur at any age, but some people are at higher risk of developing it. These include:

• Babies under one year old , especially babies under one month old and premature babies.
• Adults over 65 years of age.
• People with chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes , heart disease, kidney disease).
• People who have a medical device implanted in their body (e.g., a catheter or a long-term IV line).
• People who have recently undergone surgery or been in a major accident.
• People with a weakened immune system. That means people with HIV, cancer patients, or those taking immunosuppressants.

How do doctors diagnose sepsis?

There is no specific test that can tell you for sure if someone has sepsis. Doctors use a combination of the patient's medical history, symptoms, physical examination, and various tests to determine if they have sepsis.

Tests for this may include:

• Lab tests: Things like blood tests or urine tests.
• Radiological tests:Things like X-rays, ultrasound scans, CT scans.

These tests help determine what infection may have caused the sepsis and whether there has been organ damage.

What are the treatments for sepsis?

Sepsis is treated in a hospital . This allows doctors to monitor the patient closely. Some children, especially those with severe cases, may need to be admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for special monitoring and treatment.

The patient's heart rate and breathing are constantly monitored. Blood pressure is also taken very seriously. Sometimes a special device called an ``Arterial Line'' is inserted and blood pressure is continuously measured inside the artery.

As a treatment, antibiotics are given through an intravenous line (IV) to fight infection. Doctors usually start these antibiotics as soon as sepsis is suspected, even before the diagnosis is confirmed.

Also, fluids needed by the body are given through a vein (IV Fluids). If necessary, medicines called Vasopressors are also given to control blood pressure. Some children may need to be given extra blood or some blood components through a vein (Blood Transfusion). This helps the blood to clot and carry oxygen better.

Sometimes, a special ``IV Line``, which is placed in a large vein called a ``Central Line,`` may be used. This allows necessary medications and fluids to be given to the body quickly.

Children with sepsis may need help breathing. If this happens, doctors may give them oxygen or connect them to a breathing machine called a ``ventilator.'' If the heart and lungs are too weak to provide the body with enough oxygen, a special treatment called ``extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)'' may be used. This involves a machine temporarily taking over the work of the heart and lungs, giving the body time to recover.

If the kidneys are damaged and stop producing urine, the blood-cleansing work that the kidneys need to do is done by a dialysis machine.

How can we protect our children (and ourselves) from sepsis? What are the prevention methods?

Sepsis cannot always be prevented. However, by trying to prevent infections, you can reduce the risk of developing sepsis.

Do these things to protect your children from infections:

• Give your children all their vaccines on schedule. These help prevent bacterial and viral infections that can cause sepsis .
• Encourage your children to wash their hands regularly and develop the habit yourself.
• If you have a wound or scrape on your body, clean it thoroughly and apply medicine. Also, always check to see if the wound is healing properly.
• If your child has a medical device (e.g., catheter, long-term IV line), follow the doctor's instructions for keeping it clean and using it.

Most importantly, if your child is sick and doesn't get better, or if it seems to be getting worse, see a doctor or take him to the hospital right away. If a doctor prescribes antibiotics, give them exactly as prescribed, for the full duration.

"Could this be sepsis?" – Don't be afraid to ask the doctor! (Take-Home Message)

As we've said before, what you feel is most important. If your child seems sicker than usual, or if an infection that is already being treated seems to be getting worse and not getting better, seek medical advice immediately.

When you see a doctor, never be afraid or hesitant to ask, "Doctor, could this be sepsis?" You know your child best. If you recognize this condition early, there is a great chance that the child's life can be saved with prompt treatment. So, if you have any doubts, definitely talk to the doctor about it. That is the best thing you can do for your child.

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