Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Washington have concluded that out of 48.9 million cases of sepsis reported worldwide in 20017, death was reported in 11 million cases, representing 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.

Sepsis occurs when a person’s organs cease t function normally as a result of an out of control, immune response to infection. Even if sepsis doesn’t kills its victims, it can create lifelong disabilities in survivors.

The study also highlighted the fact that majority of sepsis cases, 85%,  occurred in low or middle income countries including Sub-Saharan Africa, South Pacific Islands near Australia, and South, East and South-East Asia. It was also found that the Sepsis incidence was higher among females than males. By age, the incidences of sepsis peaks in early childhood, with more than 40% of all cases occurring in children below the age of 5.