Sepsis without septic shock
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In short
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when an existing infection triggers an overactive and extreme chain reaction throughout the body. Without quick treatment, this condition can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Symptoms can include rapid breathing, a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion, extreme pain, fever, shivering, or clammy skin. Severe cases can progress to septic shock, causing a dangerous drop in blood pressure and multiple organ failure.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is your body's overactive and extreme response to an infection. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency. Without quick treatment, it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death.
What causes sepsis?
Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Bacterial infections are the most common cause, but other types of infections can also cause it.
The infections are often in the lungs, stomach, kidneys, or bladder. It's possible for sepsis to begin with a small cut that gets infected or with an infection that develops after surgery. Sometimes, sepsis can occur in people who didn't even know that they had an infection.
Who is more likely to develop sepsis?
Anyone with an infection could get sepsis. But certain people are more likely to develop it:
- Adults 65 or older
- People with chronic (long-lasting) conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, and kidney disease
- People with weakened immune systems
- Pregnant women
- Children younger than one
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
Sepsis can cause one or more of these symptoms:
- Rapid breathing and heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion or disorientation
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
- Clammy or sweaty skin
It's important to get medical care right away if you think you might have sepsis or if your infection is not getting better or is getting worse.
What other problems can sepsis cause?
Severe cases of sepsis can lead to septic shock, where your blood pressure drops to a dangerous level and multiple organs can fail.
How is sepsis diagnosed?
To find out if you have sepsis, your health care provider:
- Will take your medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms
- Will do a physical exam, which includes checking vital signs (your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing)
- Will likely order lab tests that check for signs of infection or organ damage
- May order imaging tests such as an x-ray or a CT scan to find the location of the infection
Many of the signs and symptoms of sepsis can also be caused by other medical conditions. This may make sepsis hard to diagnose in its early stages.
What are the treatments for sepsis?
It is very important to get treatment right away. Treatment usually includes:
- Antibiotics.
- Maintaining blood flow to organs. This may involve getting oxygen and intravenous (IV) fluids.
- Treating the source of the infection.
- If needed, medicines to increase blood pressure.
In serious cases, you might need kidney dialysis or a breathing tube. Some people need surgery to remove tissue damaged by the infection.
Can sepsis be prevented?
To prevent sepsis, you should try to prevent getting an infection:
- Take good care of any chronic health conditions that you have
- Get recommended vaccines
- Practice good hygiene, such as handwashing
- Keep cuts clean and covered until healed
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Next to it in ICD-10
- A37Whooping Cough
- A38Scarlet fever
- A39Meningococcal disease
- A41Sepsis
- A54Gonorrhoea
- A55Lymphogranuloma venereum
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Sepsis without septic shock?
A40 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Sepsis without septic shock?
1G40: Sepsis without septic shock (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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