Welcome to the
Irish Sepsis Foundation

The Irish Sepsis Foundation is a non-profit charity organization founded and launched in September 2022.

Sepsis InformationAbout the Charity
Registered Charity Number (RCN): 20206402
A group of people at a Sepsis foundation meeting.

About Sepsis

Sepsis arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It may lead to shock, multi-organ failure, and death - especially if not recognized early and treated promptly. Sepsis is the final common pathway to death from most infectious diseases worldwide, including viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19.

Many patients who survive sepsis continue to suffer from the consequences of sepsis for the rest of their lives.

Sepsis often presents as the clinical deterioration of common and preventable infections such as those of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary tract, or of wounds and skin.

Sepsis is frequently under-diagnosed at an early stage - when it still is potentially reversible. That is why awareness of the symptoms is so important.

If in doubt, always ask the question… “Could this be Sepsis?”

Read more about Sepsis

Symptoms of Sepsis

Please remember that there is no one sign, and symptoms present differently between adults and children.

ADULTS
An adult may have sepsis if they show any of these signs:
Slurred speech or confusion
Extreme shivering or muscle pain
Passing no urine (in a day)
Severe breathlessness
It feels like you are going to die
Skin mottled or discoloured
CHILDREN
A child may have sepsis if he or she:
  • Is breathing very fast
  • Has a 'fit' or convulsion
  • Looks mottled, bluish, or pale
  • Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
  • Is very lethargic or difficult to wake
  • Feels abnormally cold to touch

If you have a confirmed or suspected infection and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, seek medical advice immediately by calling 112 or 999 or attending your nearest Emergency Department.