ASTROMEDICS Health Library · Updated 28 October 2026
General patient education, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. A qualified clinician should assess your symptoms and advise you.
Recognising serious infection
Sepsis can develop from an infection and become life-threatening. Families should pay attention to a person becoming much more unwell, not just to the temperature reading.
Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection and can progress quickly.
In adults, warning signs can include confusion/slurred speech, very fast or difficult breathing, shivering, unusual skin colour, severe illness and very little/no urine.
Act without waiting for every sign
Children can show fast/difficult breathing, unusual sleepiness, temperature extremes, poor feeding or a rash that does not fade under pressure.
Suspected sepsis requires immediate medical care; do not wait for all symptoms to appear.
Preparing for the next step
When seeking help, describe the infection, how quickly the person has changed, any recent operation and any treatment already taken. Mention confusion, breathing changes and reduced urine. If the person appears seriously ill, use emergency services rather than waiting for a routine visit.
Questions for your consultation
- Which changes should our family report immediately?
- What is the treatment and monitoring plan, and how will updates be shared?