Hi, this is Tom, and in this episode, I'm going to be going through

sepsis in children. As always, you can find notes at zero to finals.com and in the zero to finals

pediatrics book, and you can find flashcards and questions at members.com.

And a quick announcement before we get into this episode,

I have an upcoming finals revision course on the 15th of November, 26, and tickets are now

available to purchase at 0.0 to Finals shop.com. This is the only course I'm going to be running. If you've got your finals in

early 2027, this is the only finals revision course that I'm going to be running until probably

this time next year in late 2027. So if you have your finals in early 2027, this is the course to

get on. It's the 15th of November, 26, and that's in London.

Tickets at 0 to Finals shop.com. But for now, let's jump straight into this episode on sepsis in children.

Sepsis involves a dysregulated immune response to an infection, causing systemic inflammation and organ

dysfunction. It's a life-threatening medical emergency. A high degree of suspicion and a low

threshold for initiating investigations and treatment for suspected sepsis is required,

especially in younger children

and neonates, where signs and symptoms can be non-specific.

Refer to local policies and guidelines and involve seniors when you're treating patients.

Let's start with the pathophysiology.

Macrophages, lymphocytes and mast cells recognize pathogens and release cytokines,

such as interleukins and tumour necrosis factor, which activate the immune system.

This immune activation leads to systemic inflammation and the release of other chemicals

such as nitric oxide which causes vasodilation.

Many of these cytokines cause the endothelial lining or the inner lining of blood vessels to become

...