15-Minute Blood Test Can Help Doctors Spot Sepsis And Meningitis In Kids

For parents, it can be hard to know when a child’s winter illness is something more serious.Sepsis, a life threatening illness which can be particularly hard to spot, can cause kids to have symptoms like: blotchy or pale skin, a meningitis-like rash, difficulty breathing (leading them to grunt or suck in their ribcage) or be more lethargic than usual.Yet sometimes even doctors miss the signs – and the results can be devastating. Now, the NHS has announced a 15-minute blood test could help fast-track the diagnosis of children with potentially life-threatening conditions.The test can distinguish between bacterial or viral infections much more quickly than traditional tests, meaning serious diseases like sepsis or meningitis can be picked up sooner. It is being trialled in three hospitals this winter: Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, St Mary’s Hospital in London and Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.Doctors say it could make a “vital difference” to the care of children.Currently, if a child arrives at hospital with a fever, clinicians need to determine whether it’s a sign of a more minor illness or a life-threatening condition. The most likely type of infection can only be confirmed by a blood test which then needs to be analysed by a lab – which can take hours. In the meantime, children may be given antibiotics or other treatment until a full diagnosis can be made, which takes time and resources, or they may be diagnosed with a minor illness. The new blood test takes just 15 minutes to show whether an infection is viral or bacterial, so doctors can quickly diagnose illnesses and patients can be given swift treatment.Doctors taking part in the trial say they have already seen the benefits of the test, including in a child with meningococcal meningitis who could be treated much more quickly as a result and a child with sepsis who started antibiotics straight away. Professor Simon Kenny, National Clinical Director for Children and Young People at NHS England, said: “Quick diagnosis is crucial in ensuring patients get the most effective treatment, particularly for children who may have a potentially life-threatening illness. “Innovations like the 15-minute blood test speed up diagnosis and allow focussed treatment, as well as freeing up resources to treat more patients, so it’s great we’re able to trial the test this winter when the NHS is at its busiest. The health service is predicting another pressured winter, with 2025 currently on track to be the busiest on record for A&Es and ambulance services. Per NHS Inform, in adults, sepsis is typically diagnosed using a series of tests to measure temperature, heart rate, breathing rate and blood.Related...Sepsis Is A Silent Killer, These Are The Symptoms To Look Out ForSo THAT's Why All The Kids Seem To Be Sick Right NowI'm An Online Harms Expert, Here's Why I'm Terrified Of Digital ID For Kids

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