Sepsis symptoms commonly include fever, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and confusion. Other symptoms may be related to the specific site of infection, such as cough for pneumonia or painful urination for a urinary tract infection. Early signs of sepsis include rapid heart rate, decreased urination, and high blood sugar. Severe sepsis can lead to organ dysfunction with symptoms like low blood pressure, confusion, metabolic acidosis causing fast breathing, and blood clotting disorders. In some cases, especially in the very young, old, or immunocompromised, fever may be absent and body temperature could be low or normal instead.
More detailed symptoms for adults include fast breathing, fast heart rate, chills, drowsiness or confusion, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, reduced urine output, and blotchy or discolored skin. In babies and young children, symptoms may also include feeding difficulties, irritability, cold skin, rash that doesn't fade when pressed, floppy limbs, restlessness, and seizures.
Key symptoms indicating severe sepsis or septic shock include low blood pressure leading to lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, altered mental status, and very fast breathing. A rash that does not fade when pressed (similar to meningitis rash) and bluish or pale skin can also be signs of severe infection leading to sepsis.
In summary, sepsis symptoms can vary but often involve signs of systemic infection with fever or abnormal temperature, cardiovascular instability (fast heart rate, low blood pressure), respiratory distress (fast breathing), neurological changes (confusion, drowsiness), and signs of poor organ perfusion (decreased urination, mottled skin).