Sepsis in kindergarten, sepsis at school, a child suffering from sepsis - such press reports worry parents. Is sepsis in children serious? Can a child be prevented from sepsis? And what is this serious sepsis?

Sepsis (sepsis) in kindergartenor school causes fear among parents. And rightly so, because althoughsepsisis not a disease and, fortunately, it occurs quite rarely, it is very dangerous. Sepsis is a general reaction of the body to infection with bacteria, viruses or fungi. Among bacteria, apart from meningococci, sepsis can be caused by, among others: staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci, E. coli, among fungi - Candida albicans, and among viruses - causing hemorrhagic fever. Importantly, sepsis is not contagious at all. Contagious, however, are bacteria, viruses and fungi that may contribute to its occurrence.

Sepsis in children: most often menigococcal or pneumococcal sepsis

Although there may be many causes of sepsis, in children, the most common cause is one of two strains of bacteria: meningococci or pneumococci.

  • Meningococcal sepsisusually progresses rapidly, bringing the patient to a critical condition within a few hours. The prognosis is better when it is diagnosed within an hour, and antibiotics are given after the diagnosis, as meningococci are particularly sensitive to most of them.
  • Pneumococcal sepsistends to progress more slowly and symptoms are not as pronounced. This does not mean, however, that it is less dangerous, because this non-obvious symptom may lead to starting treatment too late. In addition, pneumococci, unlike meningococci, are resistant to most antibiotics.

That is why it is so important to vaccinate children.

Sepsis in children: symptoms of sepsis

The symptoms of sepsis aren't unusual at first, but a few things should get your attention.

  • fever well above 38.5 C (but it happens, although very rarely, that the temperature is lower than 36.6 C) - you should be alarmed that the child's condition is much worse than the situation would suggest and the temperature is difficult to lower
  • the child is lethargic and not very mobile; it can also be tearful, restless, irritable,complain of joint pain or vomit.

These symptoms are quickly joined by other symptoms, usually characteristic of bacteria, viruses or fungi that caused the sepsis.

For example, when bacteria enter the nervous system, meningitis can develop with characteristic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, convulsions, drowsiness, clumsiness, neck stiffness). There may also be a hemorrhagic rash, i.e. ecchymosis under the skin. They look like tiny bruises, the size of a pin head, blue-blue, not disappearing when pressed with, for example, the edge of a glass. These are bacterial blockages in the tiny blood vessels.

Sepsis in children: treatment of sepsis

The most important thing is to give you antibiotics (during the first hours of symptoms), fluids, heart medications and anticoagulants as soon as possible. Only then is it determined which organism caused the sepsis by performing blood cultures. The primary source of infection in the body is also looked for: abscesses or inflammations. Most often, the organism responsible for sepsis is detected in the blood, which facilitates therapeutic management. However, about 30 percent. cases cannot be confirmed (identified) by bacteriological examination of the type of infection. In such situations, therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics is also quickly started.

Sepsis in kindergarten and school: everyone takes antibiotic

If a child develops sepsis, all children who come into contact with him in kindergarten or school must take a broad-spectrum antibiotic as a preventive measure. Usually, classes at the facility are also interrupted for a few days (until the cause of sepsis is established).

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Child's he alth