Sepsis is often misdiagnosed as conditions with similar flu-like symptoms, such as the flu, viral infections, pneumonia, or gastroenteritis, but it can also mimic serious issues like heart attack (myocardial ischemia), pulmonary embolism, stroke, or pancreatitis, leading to delayed treatment because its broad symptoms (fever, rapid heart rate, confusion) overlap with many other critical illnesses.
Common Misdiagnoses of Sepsis
Its first wave of symptoms mirrors everyday illnesses—seasonal flu, viral gastroenteritis, even a mild urinary infection. When a clinician anchors on these look‑alike ailments, missed sepsis symptoms persist unnoticed.
Some medical issues that can mimic the symptoms of sepsis are as follows:
New fever or chills. Confusion. Problems speaking. A severe headache.
Symptoms of severe sepsis or septic shock
a change in mental state – like confusion or disorientation. diarrhoea. nausea and vomiting. slurred speech.
Symptoms of sepsis
Sweating for no clear reason. Feeling lightheaded. Shivering. Symptoms specific to the type of infection, such as painful urination from a urinary tract infection or worsening cough from pneumonia.
The impact of sepsis on the gut is manifold, e.g., sepsis mediated alteration of the gut-blood barrier and increase in the intestinal permeability, which may correlate with the phenomena of bacterial translocation and lymphatic activation (“toxic-lymph”).
Sepsis can cause acute and long-term brain dysfunction, namely, sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) and cognitive impairment. SAE refers to changes in consciousness without direct evidence of central nervous system infection. It is highly prevalent and may cause poor outcomes in sepsis patients.
Many sepsis survivors have said that when they were ill, it was the worst they ever felt. It was the worst sore throat, worst abdominal pain, or they felt that they were going to die. Children developing sepsis may exhibit different symptoms, as seen below.
Signs and symptoms of an infection
The diagnosis of sepsis in critically ill patients is challenging, because it can be complicated by the presence of inflammation as a result of other underlying disease processes and prior use of antibiotics making cultures negative.
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a systemic dysregulated host response to infection. The brain is particularly susceptible to the effects of sepsis with clinical manifestations ranging from mild confusion to a deep comatose state.
Throughout history, sepsis has been known by various different names. In the past it was referred to as hospital gangrene (also known as nosocomial fever or putrid fever), a common affliction of soldiers whose war wounds frequently became infected.
These conditions include anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal emergency, pulmonary disease, metabolic abnormality, toxin ingestion/withdrawal, vasculitis, and spinal injury.
To prove you've been a victim of medical misdiagnosis, you must demonstrate that their failure to diagnose you appropriately had a detrimental effect on your health. For example, if a doctor misread your X-rays and didn't see a tumor, that is medical negligence.
NHS Resolution statistics reveal £970,716,751 paid across 8,067 claims between 2019-2024, with cancer misdiagnosis, delayed stroke diagnosis, and cardiac assessment failures typically achieving £50,000-£400,000 depending on severity, treatment impact, and functional consequences requiring comprehensive medical evidence ...
You may see small, dark-red spots on your skin. Other common sepsis symptoms include: Urinary issues, such as reduced urination or an urge to urinate. Low energy/weakness.
Since there is no single definitive test, clinicians turn to a combination of diagnostic tests to assess risk. Common lab tests for sepsis evaluate infection markers and immune response, such as elevated white blood cells, abnormal serum lactate, or inflammatory indicators.
If you have an infection or wound that is not getting better, see a doctor. Call 911 or seek emergency care immediately if you suspect sepsis or experience any of the following symptoms: Rapid breathing. Fast heart rate.
Sepsis recovery and older adults.
60% of older adults hospitalized for severe sepsis experienced diminished cognitive and physical functioning, including losing the ability to walk and do everyday activities such as bathing or preparing meals.
Brain abscess symptoms include:
Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the:
Symptoms of fecal impaction extend from constipation, anorexia, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, to full blown sepsis. We present the case of a patient with cerebral palsy and mental retardation, who presented to the Emergency Department with a 3-day history of diffuse abdominal pain and fecal incontinence.
Sepsis symptoms can vary depending on the stage of the condition and the underlying cause, but common signs include: Abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. Chills or shivering. Confusion or disorientation.
Symptoms of a bowel perforation include: