Doctors have warned that there is a “silent” symptom of sepsis that can be heard in child’s cry and parents should be aware of it.
A high-pitched and weak cry could indicate that your child has sepsis, according to a report by The Mirror.
The most common symptoms of the life-threatening illness include rashes and unexplained sleepiness, but doctors are claiming that this specific cry is one of the lesser-known symptoms.
It is deemed a silent sign because it is only seen when a child is crying, that a higher than normal sound is heard while also being weaker.
Sepsis is an infection that develops in the blood and can be fatal if not given medical attention immediately.
It can develop at any age but babies who are under the age of one, premature babies or those with mothers who had an infection while pregnant are more vulnerable.
The HSE says you should call emergency services if your child:
- has blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
- has a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, in the same way you check for meningitis
- is being very sluggish, unusually sleepy and hard to wake
- feels unusually cold to touch
- has had no pee or wet nappies for more than 12 hours
- is breathing very fast
- has fits or convulsions
- has a weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- has an infection, is still unwell after 24 hours or is getting worse – it may be sepsis
The early signs of the infection include:
- a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher in babies under 3 months
- a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius or higher in babies aged 3 to 6 months
- a temperature below 36 degrees Celsius – re-check after 5 minutes to confirm
- difficulty breathing, breathlessness or you notice their stomach moving in and out as they use their stomach muscles to help them breathe
- no interest in feeding (in babies)
- not drank anything for more than 8 hours when awake
- been vomiting repeatedly
- blood in their vomit or their vomit is green or black
- sunken eyes
- a bulging soft spot on their head
- no interest in anything, even with encouragement
- been less responsive, irritable or difficult to console
- a stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down
- been behaving differently than usual to the point that you are worried
