Sepsis in children is a severe systemic infection and intoxication that occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to a microbial agent, leading to multiple organ failure and potentially death.
On September 17th, Dr. Chu Thanh Son, from the Intensive Care Unit of the National Children's Hospital, stated that the causative agents include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Recognizable symptoms include: slurred speech or confusion; muscle tremors or pain; fever; absence of urine; difficulty breathing; fatigue, exhaustion; pale or mottled skin.
This is a medical emergency, and the outcome of treatment depends on the child being diagnosed and treated promptly. If you suspect or have confirmed that your child has an infection and exhibits the above symptoms, parents should immediately take the child to a medical facility for examination and timely treatment.
Parents often find it difficult to recognize sepsis in children early on, as the symptoms are also common in benign febrile illnesses. However, sepsis progresses rapidly and can lead to more serious complications if not treated promptly.
"Those who respond well can recover within 7-14 days, but if detected and treated late, children may die or suffer lifelong consequences," said Dr. Son.
Sepsis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Therefore, doctors make a definitive diagnosis using blood culture tests, rapid antigen tests, gene amplification tests, and by searching for the source of infection such as pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, or urinary tract infections.
A child with sepsis is being treated at the National Children's Hospital. Photo: Tran Viet
Septic shock
Dr. Le Nhat Cuong, from the Intensive Care Unit of the National Children's Hospital, said that septic shock is a common medical condition, with many patients admitted in a very critical state. If not detected and treated promptly, the disease will progress to multi-organ failure (liver, kidney, blood clotting disorders).
Treatment for septic shock primarily involves early detection, timely antibiotic use, respiratory resuscitation with mechanical ventilation support, and circulatory resuscitation with vasopressors and cardiac support. In addition, some intensive support measures include continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for patients with renal failure, and the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with severe respiratory or circulatory failure unresponsive to vasopressors.
Despite advances in resuscitation treatment, septic shock remains a significant disease burden with a high mortality rate. It is estimated that approximately 20 million children (under 5 years old) worldwide develop sepsis each year, and 3 million of them die.
Le Nga
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