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Pediatric SIRS, Sepsis, and Septic Shock Criteria
Age-based paediatric SIRS and sepsis classification.
Pediatric SIRS, Sepsis, and Septic Shock Criteria
Age group
Sets the age-specific vital-sign and leukocyte thresholds.
Core temperature
°C
Heart rate
bpm
Respiratory rate
/min
Leukocyte count
x10^3/mm^3
Suspected or proven infection
Acute non-cardiovascular organ dysfunction
Respiratory, renal, neurological, haematological or hepatic dysfunction.
Cardiovascular dysfunction despite fluid bolus
Hypotension, need for vasoactive drug, or hypoperfusion after >=40 mL/kg isotonic fluid.
Complete the fields above to see the result.
When to use
- Classifying a child along the SIRS -> sepsis -> severe sepsis -> septic shock continuum using age-adjusted vital signs.
Formula
SIRS = >=2 of: abnormal temperature (>38.5 or <36 C), age-abnormal heart rate, age-abnormal respiratory rate, or abnormal leukocyte count - with at least one being temperature or leukocyte count. Sepsis = SIRS + infection. Severe sepsis = sepsis + organ dysfunction. Septic shock = sepsis + cardiovascular dysfunction.
Pearls and pitfalls
- For infants <1 year, bradycardia also counts as an abnormal heart-rate criterion.
- The 2024 Phoenix criteria have since redefined paediatric sepsis around organ dysfunction rather than SIRS.