Sepsis signs and symptoms: a nursing perspective

A nurse may notice a person becoming more confused, sleepy, weak, breathless, pale, cold, or clammy. Fever and chills can occur, but a low or normal temperature does not exclude serious infection. Nurses compare current observations with earlier ones and pay attention to a change from the person's usual behaviour or function.

The suspected source may be the lungs, urinary system, skin, or another site. [Sepsis](/conditions/sepsis/) is a body-wide response to infection, while [Feeling Generally Unwell](/symptoms/feeling-generally-unwell/) and [Generalised Weakness](/symptoms/generalised-weakness/) are symptoms that need context rather than being diagnoses by themselves.

Tell a nurse or doctor immediately about a sudden change in alertness, breathing, skin colour, pain, temperature, or urine output. Provide the timeline, known infections, recent antibiotics, allergies, and long-term conditions. Do not leave a deteriorating person alone while waiting for help.

The clinical team may repeat observations, examine the likely infection source, take blood or urine samples, and begin urgent treatment. Nurses help monitor response, communicate changes, and escalate when the person's condition does not improve.

Emergency escalation is needed for difficulty waking, new confusion, severe breathing difficulty, fainting, blue or grey lips, cold clammy skin, rapidly worsening weakness, or very little urine. Fever with shaking chills and a deteriorating appearance also needs immediate medical review. Family members should speak up if the person seems substantially different from usual.

Ask what changes prompted escalation, where the infection may be located, how observations will be repeated, which treatment is planned, and what the family should report straight away.