Key sepsis warning signs after child star of The Ring Daveigh Chase dies aged just 35

Child star Daveigh Chase has passed away at the age of 35, with her manager, John Ryan Jr., confirming that she died from sepsis after contracting meningitis.

Ryan Jr. confirmed the news about Chase, who was best known for voicing Lilo in the fan-favourite Disney film Lilo and Stitch as well as her role as Samara in the 2022 horror The Ring, to BBC News earlier this week on Wednesday (17 June).

He told the outlet: "She was not very Hollywood. She'd rather eat at Bob's Big Boy and go home with the cats. She loved acting but wasn't into the fame scene. [...] She was the greatest."

The NHS explains that meningitis is an infection of the protective layers that cover the brain and spinal cord.

It can be very serious and even life-threatening if not treated quickly.

Child actress Daveigh Chase died aged 35 from sepsis after contracting meningitis (Todd Williamson / Stringer / Getty Images)

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

The symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:

• a high temperature (fever)
• very cold hands and feet
• a stiff neck
• joint and muscle pain
• a severe headache that is getting worse
• eye pain when looking at bright lights
• seizures (fits)
• vomiting (being sick) and diarrhoea
• confusion
• being very sleepy or difficult to wake
• spots or a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)

Chase was best known for voicing Lilo in Lilo and Stitch as well as her role as Samara in the 2022 horror The Ring (Polk Imaging / Contributor / Getty Images)

How does meningitis lead to sepsis?

In some cases, meningitis can lead to sepsis when the bacteria causing the infection spread beyond the meninges and enter the bloodstream.

When bacteria enter the bloodstream, the immune system mounts a response to fight the infection, and sometimes this response becomes excessive, causing widespread inflammation throughout the body.

This can lead to sepsis that can develop quickly in people with bacterial meningitis.

As sepsis worsens, inflammation damages blood vessels and reduces blood flow, limiting oxygen delivery to vital organs.

Blood pressure may drop dangerously low, leading to septic shock and potentially multiple organ failure.

When meningitis and sepsis occur together, they increase the risk of serious complications, long-term disability, and death.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis occurs when your body reacts badly to an infection and starts to damage its own tissues and organs.

Unlike many other illnesses, sepsis is not passed from person to person.

Who can catch it?

Absolutely anyone suffering from an infection can suffer sepsis, but it's worth noting that infection is more probable in:

• Babies under the age of one - particularly premature babies
• People over 75
• People with diabetes
• People with a weakened immune system - e.g those who've recently had chemotherapy or an organ transplant
• People who have recently had surgery or a serious illness
• Women who have just given birth, had a miscarriage or had an abortion

Meningitis can lead to sepsis when the bacteria causing the infection spread beyond the meninges and enter the bloodstream (Getty Stock Images)

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Sepsis usually develops quickly over a few hours. If it's not treated, it can turn into septic shock, which can be fatal.

Common symptoms of sepsis in adults include:

• confusion or slurred speech
• uncontrollable shivering
• muscle pain
• difficulty breathing
• blue, pale, grey or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
• a high or low temperature – a high temperature is less common in older adults
• not peeing all day or peeing very little in the past 18 hours