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Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection that causes organs to stop working properly. A person can deteriorate quickly. Confusion, severe breathlessness, ashen skin, little urine or difficulty waking requires immediate emergency care.

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Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection that causes organs to stop working properly. A person can deteriorate quickly. Confusion, severe breathlessness, ashen skin, little urine or difficulty waking requires immediate emergency care.

  • Feeling very ill, rapid deterioration, fever, shivering or an unusually low temperature.
  • Fast or difficult breathing, breathlessness, blue lips or a low oxygen reading.
  • Do not treat possible sepsis at home or wait to see whether paracetamol lowers the fever.
  • If possible, note medicines, allergies, illnesses and when the rapid deterioration began.
  • Call immediately for medical assessment of an infection with rapid deterioration, drowsiness, breathlessness or little urine.
  • For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.

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