Septic shock is a common cause of admission to the pediatric emergency and Pediatric Intensive Care Units requiring prompt recognition and management. The dynamic nature of the illness and the high mortality and morbidity rates associated with it make septic shock the most challenging disease to treat. Early recognition and aggressive time bound resuscitation is the key to successful outcome in children with septic shock. Therefore, guidelines for the management of septic shock laid down by the Surviving sepsis Campaign Committee are base on these principles. In this article, the physiologic principles behind shock states, the types of septic shock and the management of septic shock are discussed in detail with a special reference to resource restricted settings.

Key Words: sepsis, septic shock, physiologic principles, surviving sepsis campaign guidelines, Early goal directed Therapy, mixed venous oxygen saturation