Sepsis in Children: A Silent Killer with Overlooked Symptoms
Global health experts warn that sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to infection, is a leading cause of death in children worldwide. The Sepsis Alliance reports that over 3.4 million children lose their lives to sepsis each year, with 85% of these deaths occurring before the age of five. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and improved diagnostic methods for this condition.
Professor Elliot Long, a team leader in clinical sciences and emergency research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, highlights the challenges in diagnosing sepsis among children. Despite the condition being treatable, nearly 10% of cases are missed in emergency rooms. Long explains that the immune system’s abnormal response to infection can either be underactive, leading to severe, overwhelming infection, or overactive, causing damage to the body’s organs. This dual nature of the immune response makes sepsis particularly difficult to diagnose and treat.
According to the Sepsis Alliance, the average hospital stay for children admitted with sepsis exceeds a month. However, the majority of deaths occur before the age of five, emphasizing the vulnerability of young children. Long also notes that many people are unaware of how common or severe sepsis can be, which contributes to its underdiagnosis. Symptoms of sepsis often mimic those of common viral infections, making it challenging for both parents and healthcare professionals to recognize the condition in its early stages.
Early detection is crucial for improving outcomes, yet the symptoms of sepsis in its early stages are often subtle and difficult to detect. In contrast, late-stage sepsis is more easily identifiable, but the treatments are less effective at this point, making prevention even more critical. The Sepsis Alliance has developed the acronym T.I.M.E. to help identify the primary warning signs of sepsis: Temperature (fever or hypothermia), Infection (signs of an ongoing infection), Mental decline (confusion, sleepiness, difficulty awakening), and Extremely ill (severe pain, shortness of breath, feelings of impending death).
Long, who was recently awarded a $5 million National Critical Research Infrastructure Initiative grant to test potential sepsis treatments in Australia and New Zealand, stressed the importance of early intervention. He explained that treatments for sepsis are currently supportive, meaning children are treated with antibiotics while doctors manage the immune response and wait for normal organ function to return. However, there is a significant need to develop treatments that can modify the immune response to improve outcomes for children suffering from sepsis.
Moreover, the long-term impact of sepsis on children and their families cannot be overlooked. Long and his colleagues are actively looking for long-term effects, including cognitive, emotional, and motor impairments. The emotional and psychological burden on families is also significant, as they often endure an extremely stressful life event with the potential loss of their child. This underscores the importance of not only medical treatment but also emotional and psychological support for affected families.
Long emphasized the role of parents in detecting early signs of sepsis, noting that many cases go unnoticed because children under five, especially those under one year, often cannot describe their symptoms. He introduced the concept of ”Martha’s Rule,” which allows parents to bypass local escalation procedures and seek an independent medical opinion if they perceive their child is deteriorating. This rule is particularly vital in cases where sepsis can lead to rapid deterioration and potentially fatal outcomes.
Despite the challenges, there is hope on the horizon. Ongoing research, like the $5 million grant received by Long, aims to develop more effective treatments for sepsis. As awareness grows and diagnostic methods improve, the goal is to reduce the number of children who die from this condition each year. Public education and policy efforts are also critical to addressing the issue of sepsis in children across the globe.