Test spots illness in tots and mums

A "PROMISING" new way of detecting sepsis early in newborn babies and pregnant women has been discovered.

- BY STEPHEN BEECH

A breakthrough study by Irish researchers pinpointed a biomarker for the early identification of the potentially deadly condition in "high-risk" patient groups, including young children.

The team discovered the potential of the molecule interleukin-6, known as IL-6, as a powerful indicator of sepsis which results from the immune system's overreaction to infection.

It is one of the leading causes of loss of life, accounting for an estimated 11million deaths every year globally.