What is Pediatric Sepsis?

Posted On: Apr 1, 2023

Sepsis can affect anyone, at any time, including the very old and the very young. The week of April 16th is recognized at Pediatric Sepsis Awareness Week. Children, particularly premature babies and infants, can be more susceptible to developing sepsis. Sometimes incorrectly called blood poisoning, sepsis is the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Sepsis kills and disables millions. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

In the United States, more than 75,000 children develop severe sepsis each year. This works out to about 200 per day, and the number is increasing by 8% every year. Almost 7,000 of these children die – this is more than those who die of pediatric cancers. Sepsis in the developing world is even more serious, causing many more deaths.

Many children who survive sepsis are left with long-term problems. More than 1 in 3 children (34%) who survive experience a change in cognitive skills still at 28 days following their discharge from the hospital. Nearly half return to the hospital at least once after surviving sepsis.

In developing countries, many more children develop sepsis and many more die. Sepsis can stem from infections that occur as a result of unsanitary conditions at birth, infections during pregnancy that are passed on to the newborns, or preventable infections that may be more prevalent in countries with limited vaccinations and medical care.

As with an adult, a child can develop sepsis as the result of any type of infection.

For information regarding sepsis in children, visit the Sepsis Alliance at Children | Sepsis Alliance. If you have questions regarding your child’s health, reach out to Kid Clinic at 307-688-8700 or CCH Pediatrics at 307-688-3636.