About the content
Sepsis in children is a life-threatening emergency that requires fast, accurate recognition. Distinguishing it from a simple fever can be tough—but early intervention saves lives. This module gives healthcare professionals the tools to identify and treat pediatric sepsis effectively. Sepsis can escalate quickly, leading to shock and organ failure. Timely antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, and vasoactive support are critical. You'll also learn when to intubate, use steroids, and administer blood products for comprehensive care. In just 20 minutes, this module will sharpen your ability to manage pediatric sepsis—supporting faster decisions and better outcomes.
What You Will Learn
- Differentiate between a child with fever and a child with signs of sepsis
- Understand fluid management strategies, including access options, fluid types, and rapid administration techniques
- Recognize the importance of early broad-spectrum antibiotic administration
- Compare vasoactive medications for fluid-refractory septic shock
- Identify indications and considerations for intubating a septic child
- Understand the roles of steroids and blood products in pediatric sepsis management
Acknowledgements
Created by
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
chop.edu

and
Pediatric Pandemic Network

The Pediatric Pandemic Network is supported in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of cooperative agreements U1IMC43532 and U1IMC45814 with 0 percent financed with nongovernmental sources. The content presented here is that of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, visit HRSA.gov.
![]()
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CC BY-NC-ND
You are free to download and share this work for noncommercial purposes, as long as you credit Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for the original creation.
Enrollment options
Sepsis in children is a life-threatening emergency that requires fast, accurate recognition. Distinguishing it from a simple fever can be tough—but early intervention saves lives. This module gives healthcare professionals the tools to identify and treat pediatric sepsis effectively. Sepsis can escalate quickly, leading to shock and organ failure. Timely antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, and vasoactive support are critical. You'll also learn when to intubate, use steroids, and administer blood products for comprehensive care. In just 20 minutes, this module will sharpen your ability to manage pediatric sepsis—supporting faster decisions and better outcomes.
What You Will Learn
- Differentiate between a child with fever and a child with signs of sepsis
- Understand fluid management strategies, including access options, fluid types, and rapid administration techniques
- Recognize the importance of early broad-spectrum antibiotic administration
- Compare vasoactive medications for fluid-refractory septic shock
- Identify indications and considerations for intubating a septic child
- Understand the roles of steroids and blood products in pediatric sepsis management
