ATLANTA — A new CDC study finds sepsis is linked to nearly one in five pediatric hospital deaths in the United States.
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that causes the immune system to harm healthy tissues and organs. Infections that can lead to sepsis often begin in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, skin or urinary tract.
Those with recent severe illness, surgery or hospitalization have a higher risk of infection that can lead to sepsis.
The study analyzed data from more than 3.9 million pediatric hospitalizations across the country over several years and found sepsis occurred in a significant number of young patients.
Researchers say sepsis was identified in a significant portion of hospitalizations and was involved in a large share of pediatric hospital deaths. Many of the children with sepsis experienced serious complications.
The CDC says effective treatment includes starting antibiotics as soon as possible, maintaining blood flow to organs and, in some cases, surgery to remove damaged tissue.
The CDC is urging health care professionals to implement programs that include tracking and reporting sepsis cases.
The agency is also urging parents to know the signs and symptoms of sepsis, noting that most cases in children begin before they go to the hospital.