What should I actually do if I think it is sepsis?

Treat it as an emergency: call 995 or go straight to A&E. Tell the staff about the infection and specifically ask, "Could it be sepsis?" Do not wait to see if symptoms improve.

Can a minor infection really cause sepsis?

Yes. Even a urine infection, a chest infection, or an infected cut can trigger sepsis if the body’s response gets out of control — which is why any infection that suddenly worsens should be taken seriously.

How is sepsis treated?

With urgency — fast antibiotics, IV fluids, oxygen, and close monitoring in hospital, often in a high-dependency or intensive care unit, alongside treating the source of the infection.

How long does recovery take?

Many people recover fully, but it can take time. "Post-sepsis" tiredness, muscle weakness, poor appetite and low mood are common and can last weeks to months; gradual rest and follow-up with a doctor help.

Sepsis: A Medical Emergency — Spot It Fast (Singapore)

Q: Is sepsis contagious?

No. Sepsis itself is not passed from person to person — it is the body’s own overwhelming reaction to an infection. However, the underlying infections that can lead to sepsis (such as flu or pneumonia) may be contagious.

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 1 Sep 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Quick answer. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that happens when the body’s response to an infection turns on itself and starts injuring its own tissues and organs. It can be triggered by any infection – a chest infection, a urine infection, a skin or wound infection, or an abdominal one. It is time-critical: every hour of delay before treatment raises the risk of death, so early recognition saves lives. If someone with an infection develops confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, severe breathlessness, mottled skin, or a feeling of “I might die,” treat it as an emergency. Call 995 or go straight to A&E and ask: “Could it be sepsis?”

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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.

Sepsis deserves the same urgency as a heart attack or stroke – but it’s far less recognised. Knowing the red flags, and being willing to say the word “sepsis” to a doctor, is genuinely life-saving.

This is a medical emergency — act now. Sepsis can develop and worsen within hours. Call 995 or go straight to A&E if you or someone – especially a child or baby – has an infection plus any warning sign: new confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, severe breathlessness, passing no urine, mottled or bluish skin, a rash that does not fade when pressed, or a feeling of being seriously unwell (“I feel like I might die”). Do not wait to see if it passes. It is completely reasonable to ask the ambulance crew or the A&E team directly: “Could this be sepsis?”

What sepsis is (and isn’t)

Sepsis is the body’s extreme, dysregulated response to an infection. Normally, the immune system fights an infection in a controlled way. In sepsis, that response becomes overwhelming and unbalanced, and the very reaction that should protect the body instead begins to injure its own tissues and organs. It is not a single germ or one particular disease; it is how the body responds to an infection that has got out of control.

Crucially, sepsis can arise from almost any infection, anywhere in the body – the lungs (a chest infection or pneumonia), the urinary tract (a bladder or kidney infection), the skin or a wound, the abdomen, or the bloodstream. It can begin as an illness that seemed ordinary. Because it can progress very quickly, the same infection that looks mild one day can become dangerous within hours. Left uncontrolled, sepsis can advance to septic shock, in which blood pressure falls to dangerously low levels, and to multi-organ failure, where organs such as the kidneys, lungs and heart begin to shut down. This is exactly why early recognition and treatment matter so much: they can stop that progression before it becomes irreversible.

Warning signs in adults

Sepsis has no single tell-tale sign, which is part of what makes it so dangerous. Treat it as an emergency if someone with a known or suspected infection develops any of the following:

Acting confused, slurred speech, or not making sense – a sudden change in how alert or coherent a person is.
Extreme shivering or severe muscle pain – feeling colder or more wracked with aches than an ordinary illness would explain.
Passing no urine in a day – a sign the kidneys may be affected.
Severe breathlessness – struggling to breathe or gasping for air.
A feeling that something is seriously wrong – many survivors describe a distinct sense of “I feel like I might die.” Take this seriously.
Skin that is mottled, bluish or very pale, or lips and skin that look discoloured.
A rash that does not fade when pressed – press the side of a clear glass firmly against it; if the marks stay visible through the glass, seek emergency help at once.

Any one of these signs, in someone who has an infection, is enough to call 995 or go to A&E. You do not need to wait for several signs together.

Warning signs in children and babies

Children can become very unwell very quickly, and their signs can differ from adults. Seek emergency help immediately if a child has:

Fast breathing, or obvious difficulty breathing.
A fit or convulsion.
Skin that is mottled, bluish or pale.
A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.
Being very lethargic, floppy or difficult to wake.
Feeling abnormally cold to the touch.

In a baby, also watch for: not feeding, repeated vomiting, and no wet nappies (a sign they are not passing urine). Trust your instincts as a parent or carer – if a child seems more unwell than any illness they have had before, do not wait. Go to A&E or call 995.

Who is at higher risk

Sepsis can strike previously fit, healthy people – it is indiscriminate – but some groups are more vulnerable and should be watched especially closely when they have an infection:

The very young and the very old – babies and frail older adults.
Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, or who have recently had a miscarriage or termination.
People with weakened immunity – for example due to cancer treatment, certain long-term medicines, or a condition that lowers immune defences.
People with diabetes.
Anyone who has had recent surgery, a serious wound, or a hospital stay.
People with in-dwelling lines or catheters – such as a urinary catheter or a drip line – which can provide a route for infection.

How sepsis is diagnosed and treated

Sepsis needs urgent hospital assessment. There is no single instant test; doctors put the picture together quickly from the person’s symptoms, their observations and a set of investigations. These usually include blood tests to look for signs of infection and to check how well the organs – such as the kidneys and liver – are working, along with cultures (blood and, where relevant, urine or other samples) to try to identify the source, and imaging to find where the infection is coming from.

Treatment is started rapidly and is often described as time-critical. It typically involves antibiotics given directly into a vein, fluids into a vein to support blood pressure and circulation, oxygen if breathing or oxygen levels are affected, and close monitoring. More seriously ill patients may need intensive care (ICU), where organs can be supported while the body recovers. Alongside this, the team works to find and treat the source of the infection – for example draining an abscess or removing an infected line – because controlling the source is essential to controlling the sepsis.

Why speed matters

With sepsis, every hour counts. The chance of a good outcome is highest when treatment begins early, and the risk of serious harm and death rises with each hour that passes before antibiotics and supportive care are given. This is why sepsis is treated with the same urgency as a heart attack or a stroke, and why hesitation can be so costly. If you suspect sepsis, it is always better to seek help and be reassured than to wait and watch.

Recovery and “post-sepsis”

Surviving sepsis is a major milestone, but recovery can be slow. Many people feel weak, tired and unwell for weeks or months afterwards. Some experience lasting physical effects – such as persistent fatigue, muscle weakness, breathlessness or poor sleep – and emotional effects, including low mood, anxiety, or distressing memories, particularly after a stay in intensive care. When these ongoing difficulties follow sepsis they are sometimes grouped together as “post-sepsis syndrome.”

Recovery is not always a straight line, and it helps to be patient and to build back gradually. Rehabilitation and support – from doctors, physiotherapists, and others – can make a real difference, and it is worth raising any lingering symptoms with a doctor rather than assuming they will simply pass. Family and carers play an important part too, and looking after emotional wellbeing is as legitimate a part of recovery as regaining physical strength.

Preventing sepsis

Sepsis begins with an infection, so much of prevention is about reducing infections and treating them promptly:

Treat infections early – do not ignore an infection that is getting worse, and seek medical advice when unwell.
Keep up with recommended vaccinations, which help prevent some of the infections that can lead to sepsis. You can check recommendations for Singapore on HealthHub.
Look after wounds – keep cuts and surgical wounds clean, and watch for spreading redness, swelling, increasing pain or pus.
Care carefully for catheters and lines – follow the advice given for keeping them clean, and report any signs of infection promptly.
Practise good hygiene, including regular hand-washing.

When to seek emergency help

Sepsis is a medical emergency. Call 995 or go to A&E immediately if you, or someone you are with – especially a child or baby – has an infection plus any warning sign: confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, severe breathlessness, passing no urine, mottled or blue skin, a rash that does not fade when pressed, or a feeling of being seriously unwell. When you get help, it is fine to ask a medical professional directly: “Could this be sepsis?” Asking the question can prompt earlier assessment, and with sepsis, earlier is always safer.

Frequently asked questions

Is sepsis contagious?

Sepsis itself is not passed from person to person. However, some of the underlying infections that can trigger it may be contagious. Sepsis is the body’s own overwhelming response to an infection, not a germ that spreads directly.

Is it really okay to ask a doctor “could this be sepsis?”

Yes. Doctors and nurses would far rather be asked than miss it. Voicing the concern is encouraged, especially for someone with an infection who is deteriorating, and it can help ensure sepsis is actively considered.

Can someone who seems only mildly ill still have sepsis?

Yes. Sepsis can progress very quickly, and early on a person may not look dramatically unwell. This is why the warning signs matter more than how the illness “started,” and why any red flag in someone with an infection should be treated as an emergency.

Related infections & conditions

Sources

UK Sepsis Trust / NHS — red-flag symptom sets (adults, children, babies), “just ask: could it be sepsis?”, risk rises each hour (localise emergency number to 995 / A&E for Singapore).
SGH (SingHealth) — what is sepsis: definition, risk groups, progression to septic shock/multi-organ failure, early-treatment message.
Singapore hospital / ICU data — sepsis burden (reported, hospital-specific – not a single national registry).

General information only. This guide is general information about an infection and is not a diagnosis or personalised medical advice. See a doctor — a GP or an infectious disease specialist — for assessment, tests and treatment. Sepsis is a medical emergency: call 995 or go to A&E if someone with an infection has confusion or slurred speech, severe breathlessness, mottled or discoloured skin, a rash that does not fade when pressed, or the feeling that they might die — and ask, “could it be sepsis?”