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<\/p>\nFive people die every hour in the UK alone<\/p>\n
09:40, 16 Jul 2026Updated 14:28, 16 Jul 2026<\/p>\n
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Urgent medical treatment could save your life(Image: Peter Cade via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The NHS has released a list of symptoms – urging people to “trust your instincts” when it comes to what can rapidly develop into a life-threatening infection.<\/p>\n
Sepsis<\/a> occurs when the body’s reaction to an infection begins to damage its own tissues and organs, causing the immune system to go into overdrive. It is a potentially fatal response to an infection requiring immediate hospital treatment. A recent post on X, formerly Twitter<\/a>, from the NHS<\/a> reads: “It can be hard to spot, so make sure you know the symptoms.”<\/p>\n It warns that sepsis can deteriorate rapidly, urging people to familiarise themselves with the symptoms and know what action to take should they notice any. Symptoms in adults include:<\/p>\n – blue, pale, grey, or blotchy skin, lips, or tongue<\/p>\n – difficulty breathing, acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense<\/p>\n – uncontrollable shivering<\/p>\n – muscle pain<\/p>\n – a high or low temperature – a high temperature is less common in older adults<\/p>\n – not peeing all day or peeing very little in the past 18 hours<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n Symptoms in children include:<\/p>\n – blue, pale, grey, or blotchy skin, lips, or tongue<\/p>\n – difficulty breathing or breathing very fast<\/p>\n – having a seizure (fit)<\/p>\n – a high or low temperature<\/p>\n – a rash that does not fade when you press it<\/p>\n – being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake<\/p>\n – not peeing for 12 hours (babies and children under 5) or all day (children over 5)<\/p>\n The NHS update adds: “If you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E. Trust your instincts.”<\/p>\n