What is it about?
Pediatric sepsis is a very significant issue for the pediatric population. Sepsis can be defined in relation to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. It can be further characterized based on the severity, including severe sepsis, septic shock, multiorgan failure, and refractory septic shock, in the setting of proven infection or suspected infection.
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Why is it important?
In the pediatric population, sepsis is a complicated and dangerous event with no one specific criteria or definition in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria applicable to every child who is suffering from the condition. The goal of this paper is to enhance awareness of the various forms and severities of sepsis in the pediatric population so that swift diagnosis can be made and treatment can be initiated. The nonspecific nature of this condition can manifest as cardiovascular dysfunction, and hematologic abnormalities to neurologic symptoms, resulting in a late diagnosis, which ultimately leads to an increase in mortality and morbidity.
Perspectives
The implications of sepsis in the pediatric population need to be addressed. It is imperative for all medical professionals, including medical students, to understand the criteria and to raise a high level of suspicion when presented with a child exhibiting symptoms that may indicate sepsis. By increasing awareness of pediatric sepsis, complications, including death, that arise as a result of late diagnosis and treatment would be substantially decreased.
Dr Adekunle Sanyaolu
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Pediatric Sepsis: The Importance of Understanding Criteria for Diagnosis, Pediatric Annals, October 2022, SLACK, Inc.,
DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20220803-07.
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