Sepsis, a dangerous immune response to infection, is now the leading cause of childhood death worldwide. It claims more than 3.4 million young lives every year.
According to the Sepsis Alliance, 85 percent of those deaths occur before the age of five, making it one of the deadliest yet most overlooked medical crises facing children globally.
Doctors say the illness is often missed because its early symptoms look like common viral infections. Nearly 10 percent of cases are not recognized in emergency rooms. By the time the condition becomes obvious, treatments are far less effective.
Professor Elliot Long, a clinical sciences researcher at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Australia, says early detection is crucial. “The paradox is that sepsis in its late stages is very easy to pick up, but the treatments aren’t very effective,” he explained. “And sepsis in its early stages is very tricky to pick up, but that’s when the treatments are most likely to be effective.”
Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system responds abnormally to infection. It can become underactive, allowing the infection to spread, or overactive, attacking the body’s own organs. This can cause life-threatening damage to the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain.
Symptoms often start subtly and overlap with minor illnesses such as fever, fatigue, or confusion. Because of this, many parents and even medical professionals fail to recognize the warning signs early enough.
To help families identify possible sepsis, the Sepsis Alliance uses the acronym T.I.M.E. as a guide:
T – Temperature changes (fever or hypothermia)
I – Signs of Infection (cuts, pneumonia, urinary tract infections)
M – Mental decline (confusion, drowsiness, difficulty waking)
E – Extremely ill feelings (severe pain, shortness of breath, a sense of impending death)
Other red flags include clammy skin, low blood pressure, and organ dysfunction. Because children under five, especially infants, are at the highest risk and often cannot describe how they feel, doctors stress the importance of parents’ observations.
“If parents say, ‘This is a very abnormal response for my child,’ those are important red flags that this may be something more than just a minor infection,” Long said.
Treating sepsis remains a major challenge. Current care focuses on supportive treatments like antibiotics, fluids, oxygen, and, in severe cases, mechanical ventilation.
Researchers are now testing ways to directly target and regulate the immune response, but those therapies are still in development. Long and his team are also studying the long-term effects of sepsis, which can include cognitive, emotional, and motor issues that persist long after recovery.
For parents, the emotional toll can be lasting. The trauma of nearly losing a child or facing the possibility of death often leaves families with what Long calls a “burden of survivorship.” To improve outcomes, initiatives like “Martha’s Rule” are gaining attention.
The rule allows parents to bypass standard hospital procedures and request an independent medical review if their child’s condition worsens. This ensures potentially lifesaving interventions are not delayed.
Despite advances in medicine, sepsis continues to claim millions of young lives every year. Doctors say the tragedy is preventable with greater awareness and faster action. For families and caregivers, recognizing the warning signs early could make the difference between life and death.