Checklist for children with infection — Helping parents and carers to recognise the signs of sepsis and get help fast
The ‘Checklist for Children with Infection’ brochure aims to support early recognition and treatment of sepsis and improve health outcomes for First Nations children.
The checklist was developed following a recommendation from the Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Mortality Study, which identified the need for a culturally appropriate, co-designed public awareness material to increase understanding of sepsis and its symptoms within First Nations communities.
How to use the Checklist for Children with Infection
Healthcare workers are encouraged to provide the checklist to the families of every child presenting with an infection.
The checklist helps parents and carers to:
understand the signs of sepsis
provides a practical ‘tick box’ tool to monitor symptoms at home
know when they should return to a doctor, nurse or health worker if their child is not getting better or seems sicker, even if they have already sought care.
Children’s Health Queensland asks healthcare workers to encourage parents and carers to keep a copy of the checklist at home and use it the next time their child is unwell.
Get physical or digital copies of the checklist
For more information or to order physical copies of the Checklist for Children with Infection brochure for your practice, contact [email protected].
The brochure is also available to download on the Children’s Health Queensland website.
More information about sepsis care
Because sepsis symptoms often mimic those of less serious illnesses such as a cold or gastroenteritis, most healthcare professionals will be familiar with some awareness campaigns that have been promoted over the last few years.
Campaign slogans have included: ‘Could it be sepsis?’ and ‘Worried about a patient? Trust your gut and escalate.’
Refreshing your clinical knowledge of sepsis to recognise and consider it in its early stages can greatly improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children, young people and their families.
The sepsis information for health professionals webpage from Children's Health Queensland provides health professionals with:
a paediatric sepsis pathway to help with the screening, recognition and treatment of sepsis
a paediatric sepsis pathway toolkit
clinical education and training resources
information sheets and promotional resources designed to help raise sepsis awareness and understanding with patients.
Visit Queensland Health’s sepsis webpage for resources to help health professionals recognise and treat sepsis in adults.
Visit the Australian Sepsis Network’s webpage for health professionals.