Blood poisoning, also known as sepsis, is the dreaded and dangerous clinical picture that can be triggered by infections. In small children, sepsis caused by meningococci is an absolute emergency.
Is there any suspicion of a Meningitis due to meningococci, sepsis caused by this pathogen must always be feared. Severe health deterioration with fever, a headache, Bleeding and rashes, could be the harbingers of this clinical picture, which is often fatal in small children. Smallest hemorrhages in the skinthose that do not exceed 2 mm represent an early symptom, larger bleeding of more than 2 mm a late symptom. In 2/3 of the children meningitis is the leading, the mortality rate is 1-2%. In the others, meningococcal sepsis develops without accompanying meningitis.
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When one speaks of blood poisoning in children, it is a defense reaction of the child's body to an infection, usually triggered by bacteria, which spreads throughout the body via the blood system. Newborns or infants in whom the body's own immune system is not yet fully developed to fight the invading pathogens are particularly often affected, or children whose immune system is weakened due to a congenital cause or another existing disease.
There are a few signs that could indicate blood poisoning in children and parents should be alerted if they occur. Identifying an infection can be very difficult, especially in newborns. The affected children often stand out due to physical exhaustion, lack of drive, poor drinking or a change in consciousness. A bloated stomach, vomiting, or refusal to eat should also attract parents' attention. In addition, disorders of the cardiovascular system can occur, such as increased and rapid breathing, palpitations or arrhythmias, as well as cold and bluish extremities. In addition, the skin of the sick child may appear very pale and marbled, or it may have rashes and bleeding. Especially small children often stand out due to slack muscles, as well as sensitivity to touch, instability of the body temperature and a clearly apathetic appearance.
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The symptoms of blood poisoning in children can vary depending on the age of the child and the progression, or the severity of the inflammation. Symptoms include physical exhaustion and weakness, a change in body temperature, drinking weakness or difficult food intake, changes in muscle tone, weakness of the cardiovascular system or changes in the skin such as newly appeared paleness or rashes.
A progressive blood poisoning can also lead to a strong change in consciousness with a clear clouding of the situation, up to and including unconsciousness.
By definition, blood poisoning in children is characterized by an increase in body temperature above 38 ° C or a decrease below 36 ° C, an increased or decreased heart rate, significantly increased breathing, a significant increase or decrease in white blood cells and positive evidence of bacteria in the blood.
Read more on the subject at: Symptoms of blood poisoning
The formation of a red line on the arm or on the leg that spreads to the heart is often viewed as a sign of the onset of blood poisoning in the child. However, this is a mistake.
A red line on the skin is not a sign of blood poisoning, but can be viewed as a symptom of what is known as lymphangitis. Lymphangitis is an inflammation of the lymphatic tracts of the skin and the subcutaneous fatty tissue, which in most cases is caused by the entry of bacteria. Colloquially, this is often incorrectly referred to as blood poisoning. If the infection of the lymph vessels continues to spread to the bloodstream, it can rarely lead to true blood poisoning.
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$config[ads_text3] not foundThe duration of blood poisoning in children can vary greatly depending on the severity, the pathogen causing the disease and the start of treatment. If blood poisoning is not recognized and treated in time, it can be fatal within hours to a few days. As a rule, the duration of antibiotic treatment for blood poisoning is 7-10 days. If there are signs of additional involvement and inflammation of the meninges, the therapy should last 2 to 3 weeks, taking into account the clinical symptoms. Overall, the duration also depends on the general condition of the child.
Antibiotic intravenous therapy should be started as soon as possible if blood poisoning is first suspected. Since, after treatment with an antibiotic, it is usually no longer possible to detect the pathogen causing the disease, samples such as blood, urine or brain water should be taken to test for bacteria before therapy begins.
When choosing the antibiotics, an initial therapy with a cephalosporin and ampicillin, or ampicillin in combination with an aminoglycoside, or, if the meninges are also involved, a triple combination of a cephalosporin, an aminoglycoside and ampicillin has proven to be effective. With this therapy one tries to attack quickly and to fight as broad a spectrum of bacteria as possible (General information can be found here: Antibiotics). After receiving evidence of bacteria, the therapy can then be individually adapted. Regardless of the pathogen causing the disease, adequate supportive therapy should be given by giving fluids as well as measures to stabilize the cardiovascular system in order to alleviate further symptoms and improve the general condition of the sick children.
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Read more on the subject at: Blood poisoning therapy
Blood poisoning caused by an insect bite is relatively rare in children, but should never be underestimated, as every blood poisoning is associated with a potentially fatal risk. An insect or wasp sting becomes infected when the affected children scratch the itchy and swollen site of the sting. This creates superficial scratches or small wounds at the puncture site, which provide an entry point for bacteria and other germs. As a result, swelling, redness, and pus build up, and the inflammation can spread to surrounding tissues, causing swelling of the nearby lymph nodes.
Read more on the subject at: Inflamed insect bite - what can you do and when is it dangerous?
If the child's immune system cannot adequately fight the invading bacteria, they continue to multiply and, in the worst case, can spread through small vessels into the child's blood system. Once the bacteria have reached the blood, the child's body reacts to the inflammation with a fever, an increased pulse and a change in breathing, and the symptoms of blood poisoning become visible.
If there is the slightest suspicion of blood poisoning after an insect or wasp sting, the sick child should be taken immediately to a children's clinic for monitoring and further diagnosis.In addition to securing vital bodily functions, the main focus is then on detecting the pathogens in the blood so that appropriate drug treatment can be initiated as quickly as possible.
Read more on the subject at: Blood poisoning after an insect bite
