Sepsis and Children

Sepsis, which was often called blood poisoning, is the body’s often deadly response to infection.

Thousands of children affected worldwide

More than 18 children die from sepsis each day in the U.S. Sepsis in the developing world is even more serious. Globally, sepsis is the leading cause of death of children, taking nearly 3.4 million lives each year. Approximately 85% of pediatric sepsis deaths occur in children under age 5.

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, sepsis can occur 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.

Here are some more facts and statistics:

As many as 8% of pediatric sepsis cases may be missed during emergency department visits.
Immunocompromised children and children who are require longer hospital stays are less likely to return to their previous quality of life after hospitalization than other children hospitalized for sepsis.
The cost of hospitalizing children for sepsis increased almost 25% between 2005 and 2016, after adjusting for inflation.
The average length of stay for sepsis patients is 31.5 days.
Children with severe sepsis or septic shock who are Black or Hispanic are more likely to die than non-Hispanic white children.

With the recent news about measles outbreaks across the country, parents are concerned about their children, their risk of infection, and complications. For more information, please scroll down to “Measles and Sepsis.”

Suggested Citation:
Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Children. 2024. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/children/

Updated March 27, 2024.

More About Children

Neonatal Sepsis

Neonatal sepsis occurs when a child develops sepsis within a few months of birth (up to 90 days). If the sepsis develops within 24 hours of birth, it is called early onset. Sepsis that develops after delivery is called late-onset neonatal sepsis.

The risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis is increased if:

There is a group B Streptococcus infection during pregnancy;
The baby is premature; or
The membranes rupture (water breaks) more than 24 hours before the baby is delivered.

Babies can develop sepsis after birth if they become infected by bacteria, a virus, or a fungus (rare). Certain situations increase the risk of a baby getting sick. They include:

Being in the hospital for treatment and
Exposure to people who have contagious infections.

The most common infections that can cause sepsis in babies include:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
E. Coli
Candida
Herpes simplex virus
Listeria monocytogenes

Very young babies and those who have medical problems may not be able to receive childhood vaccines at the recommended times. This makes the children vulnerable to catching the diseases. Many of these childhood diseases can lead to severe complications, such as sepsis. The most common ones are:

Rubella (German measles)
Varicella (chicken pox)
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of neonatal sepsis are:

Body temperature changes
Breathing problems
Diarrhea
Low blood sugar
Reduced movements
Reduced sucking
Seizures
Slow heart rate
Swollen belly
Vomiting
Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Sepsis in Older Children

As children get older, their exposure to illness can increase as they attend daycare, go to school, and participate in other activities.

Infected wounds:

Clean any wounds properly and keep them clean. We all have bacteria on our skin, but when it gets into the wound, it could cause an infection. A common wound infection is caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, or more specifically, the one called Staphylococcus aureus (s. aureus).

Bacteria can enter the body through something as simple as a scrape on the knee or elbow, or even from a surgical incision. As superbugs, like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), continue to develop, there are some infections that will be much more difficult to treat than others.

Illnesses
Infections can occur in other ways as well. Children, like adults, can develop illnesses such as urinary tract infections, ear infections, pneumonia, or even meningitis. If left untreated, these can all lead to sepsis.

Symptoms

In general, signs of sepsis in children include:

High fever (above 100.4 degrees)
General illness or a previous injury, such as a scrape or cut
Shortness of breath
Very rapid heartbeat
Drop in or no urine output

People who have survived sepsis often say that they felt the worst they ever felt in their life. For example, they had the worst sore throat of their life, the worst stomach pain, etc.

When in doubt, check with your doctor or bring your child to the emergency room for evaluation.

Treatment

Sepsis needs to be suspected and recognized as quickly as possible. The risk of death increases for every hour of delayed treatment.

Treatment is with IV fluids and antibiotics. Other medications, such as those to raise blood pressure may be needed. If your child is admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), you may see many machines used to monitor various things, such as body function (heart rate, blood pressure), medications and IV fluids that are being administered, and perhaps a ventilator to help your child breathe.

Prevention

The key to preventing sepsis is to prevent an infection from occurring in the first place. Treat infections as quickly and effectively as possible. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Regular childhood vaccines prevent many illnesses. Cases of meningitis dropped drastically in countries where the HiB vaccine is now routine, for example. If your child cannot be vaccinated because of an underlying problem, it is important that the people around the child be vaccinated, providing a “herd immunity.” To learn more about vaccines and preventable illnesses, visit Sepsis and Prevention: Vaccinations.

The risk of getting an infection also drops with proper hand washing. Thorough, proper, and frequent hand washing with either soap and water or soapless products decrease the number of pathogens that could enter your body.

Proper care of all wounds also reduces infections, even the smallest scrape or cut. A thorough cleaning with soap and water will help remove any bacteria at the wound opening.

Nutrition also plays a role in staying healthy. Children who are malnourished are at higher risk of contracting infections.

Take all infections seriously. Do not hope it will go away. Take action.

Sepsis and Measles

Measles is typically a childhood infection, although unvaccinated adults can get measles as well. The virus is spread through the air and is one of the most contagious viruses for humans. If you have the measles virus and you cough or sneeze, the virus can stay in the room’s air or on surfaces, like a door knob, for up to 2 hours after you’ve left. Anyone who is with you or comes into the room after is at risk of infection. People who are not vaccinated against measles have a 90% chance of getting the infection if they are close to someone who has it.

Another reason why measles can spread quickly is you can be contagious for up to 4 days before you get a rash, so you probably won’t know that you have the virus yet. Therefore, you would not be quarantining yourself, protecting others.

The childhood infections, measles, mumps, and German measles (rubella), are preventable with a two-prong vaccine called MMR. In North America, the first MMR dose is usually given around 12 months and the second, around 18 months or later. Some children get the second dose just before they start school, between 4 and 6 years.

As MMR vaccination rates are dropping, unprotected children and adults are contracting measles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

About 1 in 5 people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized
1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage
1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care

Children who get measles can develop pneumonia, which can lead to sepsis. (Learn more about Sepsis and Pneumonia.) The CDC lists pneumonia as the most common cause of death among young children who have measles. Other complications include encephalitis, seizures, and hearing loss.

Adults who get measles can become very sick too. Those who are pregnant could have premature birth or have a low-birth-weight baby. Both put the babies at risk for infections that can lead to sepsis.

Related Resources

La prevención de infecciones es la prevención de la sepsis en niños pequeños

Guide

La prevención de infecciones es la prevención de la sepsis en adolescentes

Guide

La prevención de infecciones ayuda a prevenir la sepsis

Poster

Preventing Infections Helps Prevent Sepsis

Poster

Infection Prevention is Sepsis Prevention in Teens

Guide

Infection Prevention is Sepsis Prevention in Young Children

Guide

Guide for Sepsis and IDD Materials for Children

Guide

Sepsis and IDD Visual Guide for Children

Guide

Sepsis and IDD Text Guide for Children

Guide

Pediatric Symptoms Card (En Español)

Symptom Card

Pediatric Symptoms Card

Symptom Card

Mi Guía Para la Sepsis y La Unidad De Cuidados Intensivos

Information Guide

My Guide to Sepsis and the Intensive Care Unit

Information Guide

Libro para colorear: Bug te ayuda a combatir los gérmenes

Coloring Book

Coloring Book: Bug Helps You Fight Germs

Coloring Book

Bug Says Finish Your Medicine

Infographic

Bug te ayuda a combatir la sepsis

Video

Sepsis and Children (Pediatric Sepsis)

Trifold

My Guide to Sepsis and the Intensive Care Unit – Children

Information Guide

My Guide to Sepsis and the Intensive Care Unit – Adult Companion

Information Guide

Children

Information Guide

Sepsis and Children

Infographic

Sepsis and Children

Video

Sepsis and Children Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

Amelia H.

I don’t know how it happened. On Wednesday my husband and I had seen our 13w + 2d baby on the ultrasound screen. We were so excited for our second child! Thursday, I started bleeding and abdominal pain at the zoo and I thought I was having a miscarriage. We rushed for an emergency ultrasound, but they said baby was fine except for a small “retro placental bleed”. Nothing to do except go home and rest. Friday, I started having high fever, chills, fatigue, more abdominal pain – with a busy toddler I just brushed it off as “not feeling ... Read Full Story

Submit Your Story View More Stories

Jess Livett

After giving birth to my daughter via emergency c-section I got an infection in my womb but the midwifes and doctors failed to treat the infection and sent me home when my crp levels where 391. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth) I then had to call an ambulance to my home as I couldn’t move, shivering and felt very out of the room. Got sent back to hospital where the infection had worsened and was told I had sepsis. I was on many many antibiotics as nothing was touching it after 7-8 weeks of antibiotics my levels went back to ... Read Full Story

Submit Your Story View More Stories

Monica L.

I was just 18 years old in 2008 when I gave birth to my daughter Brooklyn on October 9th at 11:59 a.m. The delivery went wonderfully and I was a new mother to a beautiful little girl with a head of thick black hair. About a week later, at home I began experiencing contraction like stomach pain that I just assumed was from my uterus retracting back to its normal size. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth) Within 24 hours the pain was very intense and I was starting too feel extremely lethargic and confused. I called a family member to ... Read Full Story

Submit Your Story View More Stories

Nash Epperson

On the morning of April 28, 2018, Nash was a normal, healthy 6-year-old playing in an early morning soccer game. That same evening, we almost lost our sweet boy to sepsis. That Saturday was full of soccer games and celebration – April is a month full of birthdays for our family, including Nash. On that April afternoon we had gone to a family member’s home to celebrate a birthday. While there, Nash began to complain of belly pain and had developed a fever. We took him home and he laid down to rest. As the day progressed his pain increased ... Read Full Story

Submit Your Story View More Stories

Kourtney N.

I was 24 weeks pregnant when my water broke. I’d been feeling pretty ill lately, but chalked it up to being a mom of two toddlers, while pregnant. (Sepsis and Pregnancy & Childbirth) Once I arrived at the hospital they started us on antibiotics and assured me that my baby boy and I otherwise looked great. The next morning our lives changed forever. My son and I were not looking good at all. We were rushed into an emergency C section. Once I was in recovery I learned that my placenta was terribly infected and that I had moments to ... Read Full Story

Submit Your Story View More Stories

Children

Sepsis can affect anyone at any time, but it does tend to strike more often people at the extremes of life like the very old and the very young. As a result, children, particularly premature babies and infants, can be more susceptible to developing sepsis. Sepsis, which was often called blood poisoning, is the body’s often deadly response to infection. Sepsis kills and disables millions and requires early suspicion and rapid treatment for survival. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Donate Button – Arrow

Sepsis and Children

Thousands of children affected worldwide

More About Children

Related Resources

Mi Guía Para la Sepsis y La Unidad De Cuidados Intensivos

My Guide to Sepsis and the Intensive Care Unit

Sepsis and Children (Pediatric Sepsis)

My Guide to Sepsis and the Intensive Care Unit – Children

My Guide to Sepsis and the Intensive Care Unit – Adult Companion

Children

Other Topics

Children