Mom issues fatal sepsis warning after son cuts his hand

A mother has shared how a scratch on her son’s arm nearly led to a life-threatening case of sepsis, with a “red line” being the only sign that something was wrong.

In a post shared on the Australian parenting information Instagram account @tinyheartseducation, the anonymous mother revealed how her son had fallen while at the zoo last week.

“It was pretty beaten up, but once we got home I cleaned it up. I called the school on farm school day to make sure they washed their hands after digging and went out of their way to make sure it was kept clean,” wrote the mother in legend.

In the days that followed, he said that while the wounds did not appear infected or “spiky,” they had grown.

“Yesterday, on the way to the beach, he showed me his hand,” the mother wrote. “I wasn’t happy when I noticed red running through her vein. Then I checked her elbow, same thing.”

She then took her son to a GP “feeling a bit silly”, but when the doctor saw the wound, “he recommended that I recognize it and get down as soon as possible.”

It turned out that his son’s wound had lymphangitis and it turned into a case of blood poisoning, but “fortunately the antibiotics are working and he is fine.”

The mother said she only knew something could be wrong because it had happened to a friend’s son two years ago and encouraged other parents to be aware.

“If you see this red line coming out of a wound, have your child seen immediately. Hopefully my post could help someone in the same way that my friend’s post from two years ago helped me.” wrote.

Dozens of comments from other moms thanked the woman for sharing the important message.

“This is great. I had no idea about this, thanks for sharing,” wrote one person, while another added: “It should definitely be shared. I had no idea and now I’m conscious.”

What is lymphangitis?

Lymphangitis occurs when there is inflammation in the lymphatic system, causing a red line to go from the wound to the nearest lymph gland.

The condition can be mild if treated quickly, however if left untreated it can turn into sepsis or blood poisoning which can be fatal if not treated in time.

Signs of sepsis in children include fast breathing or fast heartbeat, pale, blotchy or bluish skin, rash, decreased urination, and drowsiness or confusion.