Sepsis: how to spot atypical symptoms
A sepsis nurse whose son was hospitalised with the condition talks on our podcast about the unusual signs to look out for, and presentation in vulnerable patients
When sepsis nurse Yvonne Young’s son experienced pain in his knee and groin, she told herself there must be another explanation.
It couldn’t be sepsis, could it?
‘You try and explain it away, normalise the abnormal – “It couldn’t be that, it’s probably flu”,’ she told the Nursing Standard podcast.
The signs were atypical. But Yvonne, assistant director of nursing for sepsis at UL Hospitals Group in Ireland, listened to the nagging doubt in her head and took her son to the emergency department.
Importance of sepsis awareness
‘When we went into the hospital it was so difficult to say “I think my son has sepsis” and at the same time thinking “please don’t ask me my job because you’re going to think I’m a hysterical mother”.’
Her instincts were correct – her son ended up staying in hospital for ten days as he recovered from sepsis, and remained on antimicrobials for three months.
‘I was grateful to have knowledge and awareness about sepsis,’ said Yvonne, who also works with Ireland’s National Sepsis Team.
Patient groups to look out for regarding sepsis
On the latest Nursing Standard podcast episode, Yvonne and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust lead sepsis nurse Clare Hird discuss atypical sepsis presentations with Nursing Standard features editor Alistair Mason.
They talk about how sepsis can present in vulnerable patient groups, and some cohorts in which it can easily be missed, including older patients and individuals with learning disabilities.
And Yvonne shares what she learned from the ‘terrifying’ experience of having her 10-year-old son hospitalised with the condition.
RCNi CPD webinar on 24 September – Identifying and managing sepsis: nursing update
More Nursing Standard podcasts
Find out more
- The UK Sepsis Trust
- Statement on the initial antimicrobial treatment of sepsis (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges)
- Clinical resources on sepsis (Health Service Executive)
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