Septicaemia, or blood poisoning, is a very serious, potentially fatal infection of the blood and can be caused by many different organisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses. While symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia are similar, those with septicaemia may also have limb and/or joint pain, cold hands and feet with pale or blotchy skin.
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Signs and symptoms of meningococcal septicaemia
- A rash may develop – as the disease progresses the rash may become petechial or purpuric and may not blanch
- Signs of advancing shock
- Isolated limb and/or joint pain
- In young children, symptoms may be non-specific without ‘classical’ features of meningitis
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Pneumococcal septicaemia is caused when bacteria invade the bloodstream. Anyone can develop septicaemia. The people most at risk are older people, children or those with weakened immune systems.
Despite appropriate antibiotic treatment, septicaemia is associated with around 20% mortality in England and Wales.
Key points
- Septicaemia, or blood poisoning, is caused when bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply uncontrollably
- Anyone can develop septicaemia, although older people, children and immunocompromised individuals are most at risk