Hospital bosses say Jessica Williamson’s case serves as a reminder flu in children can develop quickly and become very serious, as the situation looked bleak for the youngster
A 12-year-old girl ended up in a coma with the latest nasty virus after her symptoms were dismissed.
Ashleigh Moore and doctors initially thought Jessica Williamson’s headache and vomiting were as a result of a “school bug”. Ashleigh, 34, now wants to share Jessica’s plight as a reminder about how serious the flu can be, and urge people to get their flu vaccines.
Her daughter was eventually rushed in an ambulance to hospital, where she was diagnosed with Influenza A. This later developed into sepsis and necrotising pneumonia, which became so severe Ashleigh feared Jessica would die.
In December, new figures released by the NHS said the number of flu patients spiked by 55% in a week as the month had brought a surge of the “super flu”.
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Speaking last night in the wake of the figures, Ashleigh, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, said: “It was heartbreaking to see her like that in an induced coma. I felt like I was looking into someone else’s life and it didn’t feel real. There were several moments where we didn’t think she would ever leave the hospital and see Christmas.
“I said to all the nurses I was one of those hypocritical people that thought it was ‘just’ the flu. I don’t think you get it until you see the inside walls of the ICU and sit in those four walls for weeks staring at your baby all because of the flu.
“I’m now urging people to get their flu vaccines. You also need to trust your gut and get a second opinion. It is scary to think that if we had just gone to bed that night [instead of taking her to hospital again], where would we have been?”
Jessica overcame her flu after a three-week stay at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, during which she became “delirious”. Hospital bosses say the case serves as a reminder of how serious flu can be, particularly in children.
The average recorded cases jumped from 1,717 to 2,660 in seven days at the start of the month, and the NHS is now urging anyone eligible to get their flu vaccination to help prevent them getting seriously ill.
Echoing this, Ashleigh added: “I’m now urging people to get their flu vaccines. You also need to trust your gut and get a second opinion.” She had alleged her daughter was initially given a single dose of paracetamol at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead when she took her there with her first symptoms, including the vomiting.
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospital, said it would “welcome the opportunity” to meet the family to discuss the case in more detail.
Sean Fenwick, Chief Executive of the trust, said: “We are sorry to hear what the family has been through and wish their child the best ongoing recovery.
“Flu in children can develop quickly from a stable situation to one which is very serious and we would encourage parents who are concerned that their child’s condition has worsened after being seen not hesitate in having them reviewed again.
“We would also strongly recommend that all children and young people who are eligible for the flu vaccine get immunised. We have reviewed this case and would welcome the opportunity to meet with the family to discuss this in greater detail.”
