19
Nov 2019
Scientists claim thousands of childrens’ lives could be saved by new sepsis blood test
Around 260,000 people in the UK are affected by sepsis each year, and at least 52,000 are killed, meaning the condition causes more avoidable deaths than prostate, bowel and breast cancer combined.
Scientists have now developed a test for the ‘silent killer’, which can detect how deadly the condition is.
The blood test, which looks for five proteins released by the immune system, can separate children into those at low, medium or high risk of having killer sepsis, meaning that those in most danger can receive intensive care, be treated quicker and given more antibiotics to attack the greater number of bacteria causing the immune reaction.
Children who are at the lowest risk can also avoid being given too many toxic antibiotics, which may cause side effects such as liver damage.
Most importantly, the test provides an insight into a future treatment for sepsis. The proteins detected may fuel the overreaction of the immune system, which can lead to septic shock and death from organ failure.
The findings could lead to a more effective treatment for sepsis in the future.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
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