NHS 'serious' reminder about condition that 'needs urgent hospital treatment'

NHS 'serious' reminder about condition that 'needs urgent hospital treatment' People should get to hopsital if they have any warning signs as this issue People should be aware of the key warning signs of a common yet potentially deadly medical condition that can affect almost anyone. "Immediate medical help" will be needed if you spot certain red flags of sepsis, according to the NHS. Posting on Instagram in a new update, the health service wrote: "Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection which needs urgent treatment in hospital. It can be hard to spot. Make sure you know the symptoms, which can vary between adults and children." The post, which was sent out on World Sepsis Day, claims the condition is a "serious reaction that can be life-threatening". It is important for people to get "urgent treatment in hospital" as it can develop "very quickly". What is sepsis, and what are the warning signs? According to the NHS website, sepsis is a serious reaction to an infection that can be life‑threatening. It can develop very quickly, sometimes over just a few hours, and needs urgent treatment in a hospital. If it is not treated, sepsis can progress to septic shock, which can be fatal in serious cases. Symptoms present differently for adults, children and babies. It is important to know some of the clear signs - especially if a child is unable to tell you something feels wrong with their body The health service wrote: "A child or adult with sepsis might not have every symptom listed. Get immediate medical help if you or your child are unwell and you think there's something seriously wrong." Noticing more subtle signs in babies and children, such as a rash that does not fade when you press it or them being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake, can help pin down the issue quickly. Children may also experience a seizure during a case of sepsis. Children and adults share symptoms such as not urinating all day or urinating very little, difficulty breathing (or breathing very fast), and a high or low temperature when you touch them. Adults may present with unique symptoms that are less common in children, such as confusion, slurred speech, and muscle pain. The exact cause of sepsis is not known, but it is thought that the immune system overreacts to an infection and begins damaging the body’s organs. The risk can also be affected by the type of infection, a person’s age, genetics, and any other health conditions they have. Any type of infection can lead to sepsis, but bacterial infections, such as chest infections, are the most common cause. People have ended up with sepsis following other types of infection, like urinary tract infections (UTIs), abdominal infections such as appendicitis, and skin infections such as cellulitis or infected wounds. Anyone can get sepsis, but there is a higher chance in babies under 12 months, adults over 75, and people who are pregnant or who have given birth, had an abortion or had a miscarriage in the past six weeks. The risk is also higher in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with conditions like HIV or sickle cell disease, those having chemotherapy, or those taking corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. The UK Sepsis Trust provides help and support for anyone affected by sepsis, including family, friends and carers. Find more help and support online here.