Pediatric sepsis is a serious condition with high mortality rates. Timely recognition and treatment are crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Pediatric sepsis is a significant cause of non-traumatic child mortality. Similar to adults, recognizing and treating pediatric sepsis early is essential to minimize complications and improve outcomes. The surge criteria for pediatric sepsis require the presence of fever or hypothermia, along with other signs such as tachycardia, tachypnea, leukocytosis or leukopenia, and bandemia. Mental status and perfusion indicators, such as pulse quality, capillary refill, and poor feeding, play a crucial role in determining the severity of sepsis in children. Prompt diagnosis requires thorough evaluation, including glucose testing, CBC, blood culture, lactate levels, and potentially inflammatory biomarkers and chest x-ray. Management includes fluid resuscitation, initiation of vasopressors such as epinephrine or norepinephrine, and administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics within the first hour.