What is sepsis?

Also known as: septicemia, severe sepsis, septic shock.

Sepsis is a medical emergency that happens when the body’s immune system, while fighting an infection, attacks the body’s own organs. Newborns and young infants are at a greater risk for sepsis as well as children with chronic health conditions. Sepsis is not common but any child can get septic so every caregiver should know what to look for.

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Reviewed by: Rodney Baker, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM