Pediatric Sepsis: Diagnosis and Management

Pediatric sepsis is a medical condition, which involves a severe inflammatory response in the body that can lead to tissue damage and organ failure in children. Premature babies and infants are most susceptible to this condition. The common symptoms include fever, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dehydration. There is no single diagnostic test for sepsis. A combination of tests such as a spinal fluid test, X-ray, or ultrasound may be required for diagnosing sepsis. Urine tests are done to gain information on urinary tract infection and kidney condition. In addition, blood tests are used to detect the presence of elevated or low white blood cells, lactic acid, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Infants and children who have developed sepsis need close monitoring and specialized medical and life-care support systems such as ventilators. Treatment with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and other medications helps in improving the condition of the patients. Preventive measures such as frequent hand washing, vaccines, and timely medical attention inhibit an infection from developing in the first place. This book contains some path-breaking studies related to pediatric sepsis. It outlines the diagnosis and management of this disease in detail. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by this book.