Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil | Department of Pediatrics, Acute and Critical Care
Programs, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada | Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of
Pittsburgh, USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Niranjan Kissoon, MD, CPE, University of British
Columbia, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Room K4-105, 4480 Oak Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3V4, Canada. Tel.: +1 604 875 2507; Fax: +1 604
875 3076; E-mail: nkissoon@cw.bc.ca
Abstract: Severe sepsis and septic shock are life-threatening diseases in both
developed and developing countries and is an important risk factor for
morbidity and mortality in all age groups. In developing countries, there is a
direct relationship between the incidence of infections and mortality under
five years of age. Child mortality in these scenarios is complex and involves
issues such as lack of preventative care, malnutrition, poverty, and lack of
resources, that together contribute to the increased incidence and poor
outcomes in sepsis. The concept of integrated management of childhood illness
that involves the community, family and health systems is an important way that
has been proposed for reduce children mortality and morbidity in developing
nations and should be applied in sepsis initiatives. Sepsis and septic shock
are observed time-sensitive, early diagnosis and prompt treatment have been
related to good outcome. Actions such as prevention sound public health
policies, educational programs for health care providers, family and community
may help to reduce the global burden of this disease in children.
Keywords: Severe infectio, sepsis, septic shock, epidemiology, mortality, children
