Sepsis

Did you know that Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death and disability in Australian children?

More recently, research has been focussed on learning more about Sepsis in kids so we can better design treatment and care. Our team here in Queensland have been working hard to find ways to identify Sepsis early and initiate rapid treatment to improve survival. Results from their research have shown a growing increase in survivorship which has now opened a new unknown area around these surviving children.

The advancement of knowledge has seen a remarkable increase in child survival, opening a new phenomena and interest related to these children and their long-term outcomes.

Due to the fact improvements in treatment and survival of children with Sepsis is so new, we currently don’t know what long-term outcomes these children and their caregivers will experience in time. It is this idea that has led us to better understand this vulnerable cohort through the development of the Long-Term Outcomes after Pediatric Sepsis (LOTUS) Study.

The LOTUS study has been developed to incorporate elements we currently known are important in generalised critical illness which we refer to as Post Intensive Care Syndrome – pediatrics (PICS-p). E

Exploring the cognitive, physical, emotional and social areas of these children and their families through caregiver completed questionnaires, we hope to grow a better understanding. It is anticipated much like other PICOLO research projects, that from this study we can better understand and shape future care for vulnerable children and their families surviving sepsis into the future.

“Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded” ~ Jess Lair

We are always open to feedback and ideas and would love to hear from you to better our research for clinicians, children and their families.