risk stratification tool for children aged 5-11 years with suspected sepsis
Last edited 09/2019 and last reviewed 05/2023
Risk stratification tool for children aged 5-11 years with suspected sepsis
| Category | Age | High Risk Criteria | Moderate to high risk criteria | Low Risk Criteria |
| Behaviour | Any |
Objective evidence of altered behaviour or mental state Appears ill to a healthcare professional Does not wake or if roused does not stay awake |
Not behaving normally Decreased activity Parent or carer concern that the child is behaving differently from usual |
Behaving normally |
| Respiratory |
Any
|
Oxygen saturation of less than 90% in air or increased oxygen requirement over baseline
|
Oxygen saturation of less than 92% in air or increased oxygen requirement over baseline
|
No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met |
| Aged 5 years | Raised respiratory rate: 29 breaths per minute or more | Raised respiratory rate: 24-28 breaths per minute | No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met | |
| Aged 6 – 7 years |
Raised respiratory rate: 27 breaths per minute or more |
Raised respiratory rate: 24-26 breaths per minute | No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met | |
| Aged 8–11 years |
Raised respiratory rate: 25 breaths per minute or more
|
Raised respiratory rate: 22-24 breaths per minute | No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met | |
| Circulation and hydration | Any | Heart rate less than 60 beats per minute |
Capillary refill time of 3 seconds or more Reduced urine output For catheterised patients, passed less than 1 ml/kg of urine per hour |
No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met |
| Aged 5 years | Raised heart rate: 130 beats per minute or more | Raised heart rate: 120-129 beats per minute | No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met | |
| Aged 6-7 years | Raised heart rate: 120 beats per minute or more | Raised heart rate: 110-119 beats per minute | No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met | |
| Aged 8-11 years | Raised heart rate: 115 beats per minute or more | Raised heart rate: 105-114 beats per minute | No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met | |
| Skin | Any |
Mottled or ashen appearance Cyanosis of skin, lips or tongue Non-blanching rash of skin |
||
| Temperature | Any | Tympanic temperature less than 36°C | ||
| Other | Any | Leg pain Cold hands or feet | No high risk or moderate to high risk criteria met |
The UK Sepsis Trust have produced a form for evaluation of possible sepsis for use in primary care (2):
Reference: