KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) — Parents should be alert to mild symptoms such as fever, stomach ache, or cough in their children, as these could be early signs of a potentially life-threatening sepsis infection.
Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Intensivist at Sunway Medical Centre (SMC), Sunway City, Dr Olive Lee Pei Ee, said sepsis is not merely a common infection but an abnormal immune response that can spread rapidly throughout the body.
She said the infection often begins with mild symptoms, such as fever, stomachache, or cough, but can quickly escalate, causing widespread inflammation and organ failure within hours.
“Sometimes the only clues are behavioural changes. If a child becomes unusually sleepy, has trouble waking up, vomits everything that is consumed, or suddenly looks less alert or energetic, they should never be ignored. It could be a warning sign.
“Breathlessness, extreme temperature changes, or being floppy or limp are signs that something is seriously wrong. If the child is completely limp and very cold or very hot, I would advise going straight to the hospital,” she said in a statement.
She advised parents to seek immediate hospital care if their child’s fever is unusually high or low and does not improve after three days of medication, or if symptoms persist.“
Citing a 2021 study she conducted with researchers from Thailand and Singapore using data from the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Dr. Lee said the sepsis rate in the region is estimated at 20 per cent but may be as high as 50 per cent.
She said the study also showed a 19.2 per cent death rate in children with severe sepsis or septic shock.
“ Malaysia’s data highlights the concern. Between 2015 and 2020, the Malaysian National Neonatal Registry recorded nearly 1,000 cases of early-onset sepsis in newborns, most commonly caused by Group B Streptococcus,” she added.
Dr Lee said the most powerful weapon against sepsis is prevention, which begins at home with hygiene, where regular handwashing, safe food practices, and clean environments should be maintained, as well as vaccination.
“Vaccination creates herd immunity. Vaccinated household members can help create a barrier for that child and offer protection. This means that even if the child is too young or too vulnerable for certain vaccines, they’re still protected by those around them,” she said.
Dr Lee also advised parents to be cautious about antibiotic overuse, adding that responsible antibiotic use, combined with vaccination and hygiene, helps reduce the risk of infections developing into sepsis.
“If we start using antibiotics for everybody, then you will have antibiotic resistance. In a hospital setting, the hospital-acquired sepsis will be very hard to treat,” she said.
On recovery, Dr. Lee said the process may take weeks or even months, with a risk of complications known as post-sepsis syndrome, which can affect a child’s physical, cognitive, and psychosocial well-being.
“Children may experience muscle weakness, emotional or psychological trauma, or developmental delays. Some may need ongoing check-ups to monitor kidney or other organ function.
“Vulnerable groups, including newborns, children with chronic illnesses, or those living with obesity, face greater risks. The younger they are, the more at risk they are,” she added.
— BERNAMA
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