Sepsis warning as ‘little-known’ symptom on the toilet could signal disease

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has revealed that she was nearly killed by sepsis while undergoing treatment for stage 3 breast cancer. The 33-year-old said she was “very unlucky” to have contracted the deadly infection, which kills 50,000 Brits each year.

Sepsis strikes when the immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage the body’s own tissues and organs, explains the NHS. The condition can be life-threatening in healthy people, but it can be especially dangerous for patients who are undergoing treatment that targets the immune system, including chemotherapy.

Fortunately, the dancer has recovered from sepsis and has reunited with the ambulance staff who saved her, describing it as a “scary ordeal” in an Instagram post. In most cases, the condition is caused by bacterial infections, but it can also be the result of viral infections, such as Covid or influenza, or fungal infections.

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The most common signs of sepsis include dizziness and extreme confusion, but there are also some little-known red flags that can signal the condition too. When the disease is caused by an infection in the gut or colon, it can cause moderate-to-severe diarrhoea.

Another tell-tale symptom that strikes in the morning is struggling to stand up or feeling light-headed, which can crop up when you’re getting dressed. Septic shock is the last and most severe stage of sepsis, and occurs when inflammation throughout the body can cause dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure, highlights Cleveland Clinic.

The early signs of septic shock include weakness, chills and a rapid heart and breathing rate. According to NHS Inform, these symptoms can then lead to:

• Low blood pressure (hypotension) that makes you feel dizzy when you stand up

• Not being able to stand up.

• A change in your mental state, like confusion or disorientation

• Diarrhoea

• Nausea and vomiting

• Cold, clammy and pale skin

• Strong sleepiness or hard time staying awake

The Mayo Clinic warns that progression to septic shock can raise the risk of death. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, you should call 999 immediately.

Chances of survival are highly dependent on getting medical intensive care as soon as possible, so it’s important to “trust your instincts”. This is especially crucial for babies or young children. Below are the symptoms you should look for:

• Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
• A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
• Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
• A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
• Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
• Being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake

It’s is important to note that someone might not have all these symptoms, but it’s vital to be vigilant as sepsis needs treatment in hospital straight away.