Dr Ranj said five people die from sepsis every hour in the UK
BBC Morning Live’s regular medical expert Dr Ranj has shared a stark warning that sepsis may be mistaken for common conditions like flu, or even a hangover. The doctor and author was back in the studio on Monday, where he spoke to presenters Michelle Ackerley and Gethin Jones about crucial symptoms to keep an eye on.
Gethin raised the concern: “Some of the symptoms can be mistaken for flu or other winter bugs” and prodded Dr Ranj for further details on sepsis. Dr Ranj explained: “It can be a serious condition, sepsis is the potential result of any infection. It’s relatively rare … it happens because either the infection is severe, or the body’s immune system doesn’t react appropriately.”
The doctor said some 50,000 sadly die from sepsis in the UK each year, or around five people every hour. He went on to say that symptoms “can be similar to other conditions, particularly in the early stages, so it can get mistaken for flu or even hangovers”.
Highlighting risk factors, he pointed out that sepsis might be more common with particular pathogens such as meningitis, Group B strep in infants, and UTIs in older adults, adding that “Very small children, the elderly and those with immune system problems” are especially vulnerable.
Michelle asked for more specific symptoms to look out for, and Dr Ranj replied: “The signs can be different in small children, particularly, to adults. They can be difficult to spot, there is no one test for sepsis.”
He did, however, say there are some common symptoms – and that these can be detailed using the pneumonic SEPSIS, as below:
- Slurred speech of confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine (in a day)
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you’re going to die
- Skin mottled or discoloured
NHS guidance further advises people to all 999 or go to A&E if a baby or young child has any of the following symptoms:
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- a weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake
Or if an adult or older child has any of these symptoms:
- acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
