Symptoms and First Aid Treatment for Sepsis in Children and Babies

Sepsis is caused by the way the body responds to an infection. The infection can occur anywhere, from chest or urinary infections, or problems in the abdomen like burst ulcers, or even simple skin injuries like cuts and bites. Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning. 

It is a life-threatening condition which makes the immune system go into overdrive as it tries to fight the infection. This can reduce the blood supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, eventually leading to multiple organ failure and possibly death. 

What to look for

Sepsis can be hard to spot. It can initially look like flu or a chest infection. Symptoms can appear different in babies and young children from those of adults and older children. View first aid advice for sepsis in adults and older children. 

In babies and young children, look for: 

• Not feeding 
• Vomiting repeatedly 
• Passing no urine over the past 12 hours 
• Skin is mottled, discoloured, blue, or pale
• A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it 
• Has a ‘fit’, or seizure 
• Severe breathlessness or breathing rapidly 
• Not responding or handling as they normally do 
• The child being lethargic and/or hard to wake 
• Feels abnormally cold to touch. 

They may not have all of these symptoms. 

What to do

Follow the steps below:

Step 1

If a baby or young child is unwell and you think they have one or more symptoms of sepsis, do not wait call 999 or 112 for emergency help straight away. 

Step 2 

While you’re waiting for help to arrive, reassure them and keep them comfortable. 

• cover them with a blanket if they feel cold 

Step 3  

Monitor their level of response.