Best Sepsis Care for our Kids – A National Forum for Paediatric Sepsis Week 2023

JUST ASK, COULD IT BE SEPSIS?

Sepsis is a life-threatening response to any infection that progresses quickly and requires immediate attention. Know the signs and symptoms (one or all of the following may be present).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS

Rapid breathing

Rapid heart rate

Confusion, slurred speech or disorientation

Fever or shivering

Muscle pain

Not passing urine

Discoloured skin

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO!

Early-stage sepsis:

Sufferers are generally unwell, may display one or all of the signs and symptoms, feel worse than when previously sick and there is concern
Contact healthdirect at https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ OR Call 1800 022 222 (24 hours) and ask…could it be sepsis?

Later stage sepsis:

Sufferers are seriously unwell, likely to display significant changes in multiple signs and symptoms, feel like they might die and there is serious concern
CALL 000 Ambulance or if quicker go immediately to the closest Emergency Department and ask….could it be sepsis?

Key considerations:

If concerned get advice immediately
If seriously concerned get treatment immediately
Inflammation due to infection is normal but in sepsis the inflammation response is uncontrolled, it may start mildly but rapidly escalate to critical illness
Sepsis is difficult to recognise as it may not have an obvious cause, it can look like viral or bacterial illnesses such as flu, gastro or urinary tract infection
Trust your intuition…if it doesn’t feel right TAKE ACTION and always ask…could it be sepsis?

symptom checker Call 000

Best Sepsis Care for our Kids is a free national forum to recognise Paediatric Sepsis Week (16-22 April 2023), an annual initiative of the Sepsis Alliance that aims to raise awareness of paediatric sepsis.

Sepsis is a leading cause of harm in children worldwide, with infants and children aged under five years at greater risk. In Australia, vital work is being done in healthcare and community settings to increase awareness of paediatric sepsis and improve outcomes for children diagnosed with sepsis and their families.

Sepsis Australia invites you to join Best Sepsis Care for our Kids, a free virtual event on Wednesday 19 April, 2 – 4pm AEST.

Sepsis Champions from across Australia will present on initiatives across the spectrum of care, from acute hospital through to post-sepsis and community programs.

The forum is open to the public and healthcare professionals.

Preliminary program: Best Sepsis Care for our Kids – Preliminary Program