THE five early signs of sepsis are being highlighted in a new public awareness campaign from the Scottish Government.
The initiative, which will run across social and traditional media, focuses on the so-called “silent symptoms” of sepsis. These include very high or low temperature, uncontrolled shivering, confusion, passing less urine than normal and blotchy or cold hands and feet.
This latest publicity drive is part of an ongoing campaign by the Scottish Government – first launched in February 2018 – to increase public knowledge of the potentially fatal condition.
Chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood said that, while deaths caused by sepsis have fallen by just over a fifth since 2012, it is vital to further increase awareness.
She said: “The key in treating sepsis is catching it quickly so that is why it’s important to know the signs. If someone has two or more of the symptoms and they are getting rapidly worse, it is important to seek urgent medical advice.”
Colin Graham, chief operating officer of Sepsis Research (FEAT) added: “This is a very important campaign by the Scottish Government and we urge everyone in the medical profession and the wider public to pick up on the life-saving messages it contains.”
Find out more on the NHS Inform website
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