Pediatric Sepsis Week - April 16-22, 2023
Each year, more than 75,000 children develop sepsis in the United States – that is one child every two minutes. This week, Sotera Digital Health joins institutions across the US in observing Pediatric Sepsis Week, helping raise awareness of the symptoms of sepsis and how to spot them in children. We also honor those who have lost their lives to this disease and celebrate those who survived with us today.
Pediatric Sepsis: By the Numbers
- Sepsis is the leading cause of death among youth children and babies worldwide.
- In the US, 75,000 children develop sepsis each year –that is 200 children per day.
- One-third of pediatric sepsis survivors show a decline in their functional status 28 days after hospital discharge.
- Preterm infants who are Black are 13 times more likely to develop sepsis and 15 times more likely to die than non-Black infants.
- Infants from lower-income families are 20% more likely to die from sepsis.
- Infants from families without health insurance are 3 times more likely to die from sepsis.
- More than 80% of all pediatric sepsis cases and 40% of all sepsis cases occur in children under 5 years of age (20.3 million cases).
- Infants, especially newborns, have the highest rates of sepsis and death from sepsis of any child age group.
- Spesis-related deaths in infants account for the majority of child sepsis deaths.
- More than 68% of children admitted to the hospital for sepsis have one or more chronic illnesses.
- As many as 8% of pediatric sepsis cases may be missed during emergency department visits.
Sepsis in Children
While sepsis is a serious condition at any age, it is particularly dangerous for children because their symptoms can be more difficult to detect. A lot of symptoms we look for in sepsis, like fever, are similar to other common illnesses in children.
Sepsis is a leading cause of death for children in the US, taking more lives than childhood cancers. More than 18 children die from sepsis each day in the country, and many of those lives could be saved with improved public awareness of sepsis symptoms and expanded health provider education.
Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires urgent attention and rapid treatment for survival. It can be treated, and in most instances, serious complications are avoided and lives are saved by using existing protocols. Sepsis can develop from an injury as simple as an infected scrape on the arm, or it can emerge on top of an already life-threatening condition, such as acute appendicitis. Besides being more difficult to detect in children, parents, caregivers, and even medical staff may not have enough knowledge about the signs of sepsis.
The risk of sepsis can be reduced by preventing infections: practicing good hygiene, staying current with vaccinations, using antibiotics as prescribed, and treating open skin wounds.
Symptoms of Sepsis in Children
Sepsis symptoms can be different for children compared with adults and include a combination of the following:
- Skin abnormally cold to touch
- Bluish or very pale skin
- Fever
- Rash that does not fade when pressed on
- Very fast or rapid breathing
- Seizures
- Lethargy or difficulty waking up
- Drop in or no urine output
Additionally, for infants, symptoms may include:
- Not drinking or feeding
- Repeated vomiting
- Dry diaper
If you suspect sepsis (you observe two or more of these symptoms), particularly if there has been a recent illness or injury, contact or see your medical professional immediately, call 911, or take your child to a hospital and say, “I am concerned about sepsis.”
Who is at risk of developing sepsis?
Any child can develop sepsis. However, premature babies and infants can be especially susceptible to the condition because their immune systems are still developing. Neonatal sepsis refers to a type of sepsis that develops in babies from just after their birth up through the first 90 days of their lives. If symptoms develop within six hours after birth (early-onset neonatal sepsis), then the infection is likely one that was passed on from mother to child during the course of pregnancy.
Some examples of these types of infections include group B streptococcus (GBS) and E. coli—both of which can exist naturally in vaginal cultures of women. For sepsis that develops after that window (called late-onset neonatal sepsis), infections are usually contracted from the environment.
In hospitals, the infections can come from catheters or any other medical devices that remain in the baby’s body for a period of time. Viral-induced sepsis is also possible and can be caused by adenovirus or enterovirus (both are types of viruses that can cause mild to severe illnesses).
In general, children who are already hospitalized for an infection, such as a burst appendix or a urinary tract infection, are at a higher risk of sepsis.
How is sepsis diagnosed?
A single diagnostic test for sepsis does not yet exist. Doctors and healthcare professionals use a combination of tests to piece together a full picture of the infection. They will likely order blood and urine tests, as well as tests for specific bacterial infections or inflammation. A spinal fluid test, X-ray, or ultrasound may also be needed.
Urine samples can provide information about urinary tract infections (UTI) or kidney problems. Blood tests can also highlight the condition, showing markers of inflammation or circulation problems, such as the following:
- Elevated or low white blood cells – Higher than usual levels of leukocytes, known as white blood cells (WBCs), are a sign of a current infection, while too few WBCs indicate that a person is at higher risk of developing one.
- Lactic acid – When organs and muscles do not receive enough oxygen, they can release lactic acid. High levels of this in the blood can indicate that sepsis is present.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) – The body produces this type of protein during periods of severe inflammation.
What are the treatment options available for sepsis?
Infants and children who have developed sepsis—and most especially those who have progressed into septic shock—are usually transferred to a hospital’s intensive care unit. There they will be closely monitored and may require specialized equipment such as ventilators for support. In addition to stabilizing vital signs (like breathing rate, blood pressure, and body temperature), doctors can treat sepsis with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and other medications as needed.
How can sepsis be prevented?
The best way to fight sepsis in infants and children is to prevent an infection from occurring in the first place. Broadly, here are some ways this can be accomplished:
Frequent hand-washing. This helps prevent the introduction of germs into the body. There are few other first-line defenses as well-studied and well-supported as hand-washing to prevent infections.
Vaccines. Today, some of the recommended vaccines for newborns (e.g., the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis [DTP3], measles, and polio vaccines) are given specifically to prevent infections.
Act quickly. The earlier a child receives care for an infection that is not improving, the greater the chances are that sepsis can be avoided.
Raising awareness for Pediatric Sepsis
Pediatric Sepsis Week seeks to raise awareness of sepsis in children, and one of the most effective ways to spread information about sepsis is through social media. Sharing shareable resources like infographics and patient stories on Facebook and Twitter can help people learn more about this dangerous condition. The CDC also provides resources for patients and families, as well as medical practitioners.
Sources:
https://www.sepsis.org/pediatric-sepsis-week/#awareness