Can sepsis in children be cured?

The article is expertly advised by MSc. Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan - Pediatrician at the Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital

Sepsis is a serious infection, especially in pediatric patients presenting with multi-organ failure that can be life-threatening. Most children with sepsis need to be hospitalized for intensive treatment.

Blood infections can occur in all children, especially in children with skin lesions such as dermatitis, boils, abscesses, pneumonia, diarrhea caused by intestinal bacteria, inflammation. meningitis ... The cause of this condition is usually caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, E.coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas...
Signs of sepsis in children are usually high fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, rapid breathing, increased white blood cells, painful urination, urinary incontinence, frequent urination (urinary tract infection); There may also be bloody diarrhea (intestinal infection). The risk of disease is common in children who have not been vaccinated, malnourished, premature babies, immunocompromised children, are being treated with corticosteroids, children with congenital heart disease...

Although the death rate from sepsis, especially in children with multiple organ failure, is still quite high, but the patient can be completely cured if diagnosed early and treated promptly.

Usually to accurately diagnose whether a child has a blood infection, the doctor will order basic tests (blood count, CRP, chest X-ray, urine ... ) and if infected. Blood infection results in a state of body's response to inflammation (elevated diphtheria, increased CRP...). The patient will be admitted to the hospital and have some other tests done to determine where the infection is (throat, ear, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract...) and depending on what the cause of the infection is and how well it responds to the infection. treated with antibiotics for which the duration of treatment varies.
Current sepsis management recommendations are based on the following principles:
Infection control : Early removal of the pathogen from the body is the first priority in the management of sepsis. For example, intravenous antibiotic therapy should be started within the first hours after the diagnosis is suspected and after blood cultures are drawn. Surgical intervention aimed at eliminating the source of infection. As soon as accurate information is obtained about pathogenic bacteria, it is necessary to adjust antibiotics in the direction of using specific antibiotics to kill pathogenic bacteria and reduce drug toxicity.
Intensive resuscitation treatment: Improving cardiovascular and circulatory function right in the early stages of sepsis will significantly reduce mortality. Additional treatments: Appropriate use of anti-inflammatory, anti-bleeding, anti-clotting, blood pressure-raising drugs... Duration of treatment for sepsis is about 7-14 days if the response is good, the child can be discharged from the hospital and resume normal activities. However, a small number of children who do not respond must be screened for more specialized tests and the treatment time will be longer.
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