Signes d'alerte de la septicémie que vous devez connaître
Revu par Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPDernière mise à jour par Victoria RawLast updated 8 Sept 2025
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Sepsis is a reaction by the body to severe infection with a bacterial, viral or fungal germ. It's always a medical emergency, and can be fatal if not caught early. You can arm yourself against this by knowing the symptoms so you can seek help early.
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Septicaemia, sometimes known as blood poisoning, happens when an infection spreads through your bloodstream. Septicémie is an infection affecting the whole body, and strictly speaking refers to the way your body responds to this infection.
According to the UK Sepsis Trust, around 1 in almost 300 people develop sepsis in the UK every year. It's more likely if your immune system isn't as strong as it should be. This means children, whose immune system is still developing, and over-75s - your système immunitaire wanes with age - are most vulnerable. Your chances are also raised if you're on steroids or cancer treatment, have a medical condition such as blood cancer, have had surgery or drink a lot of alcohol, have a long-term catheter, or have diabetes.
Signes d'alerte de la septicémie que vous devez connaître
The signs to look for
The Sepsis Trust, which campaigns to raise awareness of sepsis, has developed a checklist to help you spot signs of possible sepsis:
Slurred speech or confusion.
Txtreme shivering or muscle pain.
Passing no urine - in a day.
Severe breathlessness or sleepiness.
It feels like you're going to die or pass out.
Skin mottled or discoloured.
An extremely high or a very low temperature, repeated vomiting, seizures, and a rash which doesn't fade when you press a glass against it are also possible warning signs.
In children, the signs may be different.
You should think sepsis if a child:
Is breathing very fast.
Is confused or disorientated.
Has a fit or convulsion.
Has clammy, cold skin and looks blue, pale or patchy (mottled).
Has a rash that does not fade when you press it.
Is very lethargic or difficult to wake.
Feels abnormally cold to touch.
In children under five years, not feeding, repeated vomiting or no wet nappies for 12 hours are also concerning. If you notice any of these symptoms, don't delay - early treatment saves lives.
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Early diagnosis saves lives
If a doctor suspects sepsis, you'll be admitted to hospital immediately. Treatment depends partly on the cause - for instance, bacterial infections will be treated with antibiotiques given through a drip into your bloodstream, and you may need surgery to remove collections of pus which have built up.
In the meantime, you'll have supportive treatment to help your body keep going:
Fluid through a drip.
Oxygen through a mask.
Possible admission to an intensive care unit for breathing and other support.
Without early diagnosis, between 1 and 5 in 10 people with sepsis won't survive. But with early treatment, the outlook is much better. It can be a long road to recovery, though. Sepsis affects your whole body, and can stop your kidneys and liver from functioning properly or your blood from clotting. You're likely to be in hospital for several weeks, and may need support at home for several months.
A condition called post-sepsis syndrome can leave you feeling tired, weak and short of breath. You may be off your food, prone to frequent infections and suffer from joint and chest pains. In addition, sepsis can take its toll mentally, leaving you depressed and anxious.
That means you'll need support and understanding from your loved ones. Don't expect to bounce back to health - instead take things gently, increasing your levels of activity very slowly. If you're struggling with day-to-day activities such as shopping, cooking or cleaning, your local social services department can help with services like home help and meals at home (meals on wheels).
With thanks to My Weekly where this was originally published.
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Meningitis is inflammation of the tissues around the brain. It is a serious condition, caused by various types of bacteria, viruses and fungi. The infection that causes meningitis often causes a blood infection as well (this is known as septicaemia) which can be life-threatening. If you suspect meningitis - obtain medical help immediately.
par Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
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Historique de l'article
Les informations sur cette page sont examinées par des cliniciens qualifiés.
Prochaine révision prévue : 9 septembre 2028
8 Sept 2025 | Dernière version
29 Nov 2018 | Publié à l'origine
Écrit par :
Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP
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