Sepsis signs and symptoms

Sepsis is a harmful body-wide response to infection. A person may feel extremely unwell, develop fever or chills, become unusually weak, breathe faster, or have a change in alertness. Skin may feel cold or clammy, and urine output can fall. No single symptom confirms sepsis, and the absence of fever does not rule it out.

The infection may start in the lungs, urinary system, skin, or another area. [Pneumonia](/conditions/pneumonia/) and [Cellulitis](/conditions/cellulitis/) are examples of infections that clinicians may consider when assessing the source.

Call emergency services or attend an emergency department if sepsis is a concern. Describe what changed, when it began, any known infection, recent procedures, medicines, and relevant long-term conditions. Keep the person with you and place them safely if they feel faint. Do not wait for every possible sign to appear.

Clinicians may check breathing, circulation, mental state, temperature, urine, and laboratory results. They may give fluids, oxygen, antibiotics, and other support according to the findings.

Get emergency help for new confusion, difficulty waking, severe breathing difficulty, fainting, blue or grey skin, cold clammy skin, rapidly worsening weakness, or very little urine. Fever with shaking chills and a rapid decline also warrants immediate assessment. Use same-day medical advice for an infection that is worsening or not improving as expected.

Ask what infection may be responsible, which observations were concerning, what treatment is being started, and which changes should prompt immediate re-attendance.