SPOTTING THE SIGNS OF SEPSIS
Sepsis is a medical emergency, but it can often be treated if caught early. Knowing the signs — and acting fast — saves lives.
Here you’ll find sepsis symptoms for adults and children — but if you’re worried about someone right now, please use our SEPSIS ASSESSMENT TOOL.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF SEPSIS?
SEPSIS IN ADULTS
Call 111 or contact your GP if you are worried about an infection.
How to spot sepsis in adults
Slurred speech or 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
Sepsis in children
A child may have sepsis if they:
- Are breathing very fast
- Have a ‘fit’ or convulsion
- Look mottled, bluish, or pale — on darker pigmented skin, colour changes may show on the inside of the forearms or palms
- Have a rash that does not fade when you press it
- Are very lethargic or difficult to wake
- Feel abnormally cold to touch
Call 111 or contact your GP if you are worried about an infection.
Call 999 or visit A&E if a child has one of the sepsis symptoms and Just Ask: Could it be Sepsis?
CHILDREN UNDER 5
A child under 5 may have sepsis if they:
- Are not feeding
- Are vomiting repeatedly
- Have not passed urine for 12 hours
Call 111 or contact your GP if you are worried about an infection.
Call 999 or visit A&E if you or another adult has one of the sepsis symptoms and Just Ask: Could it be Sepsis?
“It was just something in my gut that told me something’s wrong here, we need to take him to A&E.” — Hannah Charman, Ash’s Mum
OUR SEPSIS AWARENESS TOOL
By answering a few simple questions, the tool uses smart technology to help you understand whether someone might be at risk of sepsis.
- No medical knowledge required.
- Clear and simple to use.
- Tailored guidance based on your answers.
WHY THIS TOOL MATTERS
Sepsis always begins with an infection (such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection), but it’s unpredictable who will go on to develop sepsis. While it can affect anyone, the way sepsis presents can vary, so it can be difficult to spot.
Early diagnosis and rapid action are crucial — and that’s how this tool helps.
HOW IT WORKS
Users enter basic details (name, age) and answer a few questions about their symptoms. Based on the answers, the tool gives tailored advice:
- High risk → Seek urgent medical attention — call 999 or go to A&E
- Moderate risk → Guidance to speak to a doctor or call NHS 111, plus a summary of what to say
- Low risk → Clear information on what to watch out for, and when to reassess.
More from UK Sepsis Trust
ABOUT SEPSIS
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs, with the immune system going into overdrive.
Sepsis support
If you or someone you love has been affected by sepsis, our trained Support Nurses are here for you.
Get Sepsis Savvy
Knowing the signs of sepsis can help save lives. Test the knowledge you’ve acquired on this page by watching a short video and playing our game.