Evolution of the Concept of Sepsis Scoring Systems in Pediatrics to Predict Mortality and Outcomes.

Sepsis continues to be a major contributor to illness and death in children, necessitating effective risk assessment tools. Incidence of pediatric sepsis in intensive care units is on increasing trend. Over the years, the concept of sepsis scoring systems has evolved to enhance the prediction of outcomes and mortality in pediatric age group. To better identify sepsis and septic shock status in the pediatric age group, various sepsis scores were developed. Properly applying these scores can significantly enhance timely decision making and ultimately reduce mortality rates. Selecting appropriate score should match the settings where they were designed. Scoring system is broadly categorized into two types - prognostic scores and descriptive or outcome scores. To improve care for critically ill children, it is important to develop tools that can better predict long-term mortality and morbidity and identify factors related to intensive care related events. This review article aims to discuss the evolution of various sepsis scoring systems, highlighting their development over time and their practical utility in clinical settings.