Sepsis can affect adults in different ways and can be hard to recognise at first. It might start off feeling like the flu – with fever, chills or aches – but instead of getting better, you keep feeling worse.

Sometimes it’s just the sense something is wrong, or you feel ‘worse than ever’ or ‘like you might die’.

If you think you have an infection, or you’ve been told by your doctor that you do, and you get worse – go back to the hospital or your doctor and ask, ‘Could it be sepsis?’ – even if you are on antibiotics.

Remember, anyone can get sepsis, including young healthy people.

Adults who are older, pregnant or recently pregnant, or have weakened immune systems, are more at risk. Getting help early can make all the difference.

Signs of sepsis in adults

One or more of the following may be present:

• behaviour change
• confusion
• fatigue, drowsiness
• falls
• breathing very fast
• trouble breathing
• extreme shivering or fever
• very high or very low temperature
• unexplained, new or worsening pain
• headache
• blotchy, cold or clammy skin
• a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed
• not passing much (or any) urine
• feeling very sick – like you might die.

Extra signs to watch for if you are pregnant, recently pregnant or given birth

If you’re pregnant or were recently pregnant or gave birth, your body is more vulnerable to infection and sepsis can develop quickly.

It is important to know the signs of sepsis and get help straight away if you feel very unwell. You may notice:

• unexpected bleeding
• vaginal discharge that smells unusual
• pain in the tummy, back, or pelvis that gets worse
• a strong feeling that something isn’t right.

If you’re having treatment for cancer

Get medical help immediately if you have any signs of an infection or sepsis.

Some treatments for cancer – like chemotherapy, stem cell or bone marrow transplant can make it harder for your body to fight infection because the number of white cells in your blood are low.

Always follow the instructions from your cancer care team about what to do if you feel unwell.

Remember that sepsis can develop quickly, and the signs may be mild at first.

You may have an ‘Emergency Triage Letter’ which tells hospital staff about your increased risk of infection and sepsis – give this to the staff when you go to the hospital and tell them you’re on cancer treatment.

Adults diagnosed with infection (but not sepsis)

If you’re being discharged from your health service with an infection, but you don’t have sepsis, it is important that you know:

• what sepsis is
• the signs and symptoms to look for, and
• when to go back to the hospital.

Ask for information about sepsis, or where you can find it, and make sure you understand:

• that taking antibiotics will help the infection, but sepsis can still develop
• what to expect as you recover (from the infection)
• what signs mean that things are getting worse.

If you don’t improve, or something feels wrong, seek medical advice urgently or return to the hospital and ask, ‘Could it be sepsis?’

Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait, speak up!