A mother from the UK recently spoke about her terrifying near-death experience with sepsis.
The disease continues to rank among the top 10 killers in the United States and has caused more than one million hospitalizations. (1) Learn to recognize early warning indicators like this mother’s crucial example.
What is sepsis?
An improper immunological response to injury or disease is known as sepsis. Instead of focusing on a single wound, chemicals released by the body’s immune system during sepsis cause inflammation throughout the body. (2)
There are three primary stages of sepsis: (3)
Sepsis: When an infection enters the bloodstream, it causes inflammation throughout the body.
Severe sepsis: Organ function is affected by infection.
Blood pressure drops in septic shock, which can result in heart failure, stroke, respiratory failure, organ failure, and occasionally death.
While sepsis can affect anyone, pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
Due to the weakened state of the body and possible exposure to infections, sepsis often develops in the hospital while treating another condition. (4)
Related: A man who suffered from sepsis and lost his arms and legs calls for more education and awareness.
Early discovery of infant sepsis by a British mother
“About a week ago, the little one fell at the zoo,” she began to write on Facebook.
“I cleaned him up when we got home after he took a nasty beating.
“I was worried because the wounds were getting bigger but they didn’t seem to be infected, scared, etc.
“Yesterday he showed me his hand when we were traveling to the beach. The red was running down his vein and I wasn’t happy about it. The same thing happened when I checked his elbow.”
“The [urgent care] doctor complimented me on [the identification] and came down as soon as he saw it. This is sepsis or blood poisoning. You can’t ‘leave it’ until Monday when the doctors go back to work.
She concluded by saying, “Get yourself or your child seen immediately if you find this crimson line coming from the wound along the vein.
I hope my message will be as helpful to someone as my friend’s post was to me two years ago.
We are grateful to Ruddy for first sharing her experience in an effort to raise awareness, but she has since reduced her privacy settings on Facebook after her story went viral.
Other symptoms of sepsis
Early symptoms of sepsis include: (2)
fever greater than 38°C (101°F)
or a temperature below 36 °C (96.8 °F).
More than 90 beats per minute in the heart
Respiratory rate exceeding 20 breaths per minute
Infection
Sepsis remains one of the most dangerous and deadly conditions, claiming thousands of lives every year, especially when not recognized and treated early. This mother’s quick thinking and ability to recognize the early signs of sepsis in her child underscores the importance of vigilance when it comes to infections and injuries. Noticing the red streaks along her son’s veins, she immediately intervened and potentially saved his life. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that sepsis doesn’t always show obvious signs of infection, and its symptoms can easily be mistaken for something less serious.
Early detection is essential to improve outcomes. Knowing the signs of sepsis — such as fever, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, and unusual redness or streaking near the wound — can make a big difference. The condition develops rapidly, so it is essential to seek medical help immediately. Whether it’s a child, an elderly person, or anyone at risk, awareness and early intervention are key to preventing the severe stages of sepsis, which can lead to organ failure, shock, or even death. This mother’s experience shows that when it comes to sepsis, there is no time to wait – acting quickly can save a life.