Sepsis is a life‑threatening medical emergency; you should seek urgent medical help if you suspect it, especially with these kinds of symptoms.

Key warning signs of sepsis

Common signs and symptoms can develop quickly, often in someone who already has an infection (like a chest infection, UTI, or a wound infection).

  • Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold.
  • Very low body temperature instead of a fever, especially in older adults or very young people.
  • Fast heart rate or a weak, thready pulse.
  • Rapid or difficult breathing, feeling short of breath, or breathing very fast.
  • Confusion, disorientation, new trouble speaking, or acting “not quite right.”
  • Extreme pain or a sensation of being severely unwell (“the worst I’ve ever felt”).
  • Clammy, sweaty, pale, mottled, blue or grey skin, lips, or tongue.
  • Markedly reduced urination or not peeing at all over many hours.
  • Very low blood pressure, dizziness, or feeling faint/light‑headed.

If these appear suddenly or worsen in someone with an infection, it can indicate sepsis and needs immediate emergency care.

Early subtle clues

Some early signs can be easy to miss but still serious.

  • Faster than normal heart rate, even at rest.
  • Breathing a bit faster or more shallow than usual.
  • High blood sugar in people with or without diabetes during an infection.
  • Unusual sleepiness, agitation, or “not acting like themselves.”

In early stages the person may just “feel awful” without obvious local symptoms, which is why sepsis can be tricky to recognize.

Signs in children and babies

Children can show different or less specific signs compared with adults, and sepsis can progress faster in them.

  • Breathing very fast or struggling to breathe, grunting, or belly pulling in under the ribs.
  • Blue, grey, very pale, or blotchy skin, lips, or tongue; in brown or black skin this may be easier to see on palms and soles.
  • A rash that does not fade when you press a clear glass against it (like meningitis).
  • Being very sleepy, difficult to wake, floppy, or unusually irritable.
  • Feeling abnormally cold to the touch or having a temperature that is very high or very low.
  • Not feeding well, frequent vomiting, or no wet nappies/urination for a prolonged period in children under 5.

Any of these plus concern from a parent or carer is enough reason to seek emergency help.

When to go to the ER immediately

You should call emergency services or go to an emergency department right away if someone with a possible infection has:

  • Confusion, slurred speech, or is hard to wake.
  • Trouble breathing, very fast breathing, or pauses in breathing.
  • Blue, grey, very pale, or blotchy skin, lips, or tongue, or a non‑fading rash.
  • Extreme pain, feels like they may die, or looks very unwell to you.
  • No urine for many hours or a big drop in urine output.

Sepsis can worsen over hours, so “wait and see” can be dangerous; acting fast improves survival and outcomes.

If you or someone with you has symptoms like these right now, contact your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately rather than waiting for online advice.