HEALTH CHECK
The 6 signs of killer sepsis every parent must know as Line of Duty star opens up about losing his daughter
ACTOR Jason Watkins has opened up about losing his two-and-a-half year old daughter to sepsis.
The Crown and Line Of Duty star's daughter Maude died from the condition in 2011.
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Now, he and his wife Clara Francis have told of their unbearable loss in the documentary ‘Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie’ airing on ITV1 tonight.
The BAFTA award-winning star felt the time was right to explore the grief as his family move from their old home where she was born and tragically died.
Jason and Clara hope to raise awareness for sepsis, which takes the lives of 48,000 Brits every year.
Speaking in the doc, Jason said: “It’s still difficult to talk about. In the early hours of New Year’s Day 2011, our beautiful Maudie died suddenly.
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“She was just two-and-a-half years old. Now, as we’re about to move house, the time feels right to tell Maudie’s story, but neither are going to be easy.”
He added: “I do feel apprehensive because you think, are we doing the right thing? It does feel like something that can be shared and it does help us and other people.”
The UK Sepsis Trust ambassador previously revealed he did not recognise the reaction when it happened.
Speaking in a video released by the charity, he said: “The symptoms seemed harmless. They seemed like any other cold, or flu, or stomach ache.
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“But we now know that something else was going on underneath. If I was aware, I would have asked.
“There would have definitely been a different outcome, so that’s the way you can look after your children, and your families.
“Take a deep breath and think ‘Could this be sepsis? I’m going to ask someone’ because you could save their life.
Sepsis affects 245,000 people in the UK every year.
The condition is always triggered by an infection — but it is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.
What are the 6 signs of sepsis every parent must know?
Parents are advised to call 999 or go to A&E if baby or young child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- a weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their normal cry
- not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- being sleepier than normal or difficult to wake
They should do the same if an adult or older child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:
- acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as
- difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
They may not have all these symptoms.
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It is caused by the body’s immune system going into overdrive, attacking its own internal organs and sometimes leading to deadly septic shock.
The condition is harder to spot in babies or young children, but symptoms include blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin or a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it.
Difficulty breathing, a weak, high-pitched cry, being unresponsive or sleepy could all also suggest sepsis.
UKST Founder Dr Ron Daniels said: “We're so grateful to Jason and Clara for their immense courage in sharing their unfathomable loss in this documentary.
“It really brings home in the most moving and poignant way the fact that sepsis can enter the lives of any family at any time, all too often with tragic consequences.
“At the UKST we are on a mission to reduce the number of avoidable deaths from sepsis, which run into the thousands every year.
“We firmly believe that this documentary will save lives.”
The charity is also collaborating with University of Plymouth to develop an evidence-based app to help parents spot serious illness in their children.
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Dr Daniels said: “Tthe evidence base is there but we urgently need to build this so fewer families go through Jason and Clara's unimaginable pain and suffering."
BAFTA award-winning actor and UKST ambassador Jason Watkins’ new documentary ‘Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie’ will air tonight (March 30) on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm.
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