Latest news with #MelissaLynne
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Toddler, 2, left fighting for life after holiday swim as she was infected with THREE strains of deadly bacteria
LITTLE Elizabeth Faircloth was left fighting for her life after contracting three strains of deadly E. coli. Medics now fear the two-year-old may suffer permanent brain or kidney damage after the infection ravaged her tiny body. 2 "It blows our minds because we've never even heard of anything like this ever happening," Suzanne Faircloth, the girl's mum, said. Elizabeth had been swimming and boating at Oklahoma's Keystone Lake with her family in early June when she started feeling unwell. At first, doctors thought it was strep throat and gave her antibiotics. But the meds only aggravated the infection, the mum told KOTV. Some time later, the family were told Elizabeth had tested positive for three different strains of E. coli bacteria. This led to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) - a rare life-threatening complication from E. coli. It can cause severe kidney failure, liver damage, and brain injury. "It's a nightmare," Suzanne said. "And it happened so fast, within like a week, we're here." The toddler is now on dialysis and has been medically paralysed to give her the best shot at recovery, according to her aunt Melissa Lynne. This means doctors have used drugs to temporarily stop her muscles from moving, helping her body rest while she fights the infection. Melissa wrote in a social media post last week that Elizabeth's kidneys have been 'most severely' impacted. Food Standards Agency explains E Coli 'Although the prognosis is hopeful, it will be a very long battle to get her well again, and it's uncertain if she will ever recover 100 per cent or if there will be permanent kidney and/or brain damage," she added. Elizabeth is also now battling an infection in her lungs, but doctors can't give her antibiotics as it could worsen her condition, the family said in a Facebook post on Monday. "They are working night and day, the staff is amazing, just to keep her stable,' Suzanne added. 'It kind of feels like you're drowning and you get brief moments of air just enough to keep you alive, but there's no end in sight." The family have launched a GoFundMe in Elizabeth's name, which has so far raised $8,248 (£6.6K) of its $10K goal (£8K). What are the symptoms of an E. coli infection? Escherichia coli O157, sometimes called STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli), is a bacterial infection that can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure. The NHS lists the symptoms as: Diarrhoea Stomach cramps Occasionally fever About half of people with the infection will have bloody diarrhoea. People usually notice symptoms three to four days after they' ve been infected. But symptoms can start any time between one and 14 days afterwards. These symptoms can last up to two weeks. A small number of people with E. coli O157 infection go on to develop a serious condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include: Peeing less Tiredness Swelling Bruising This can sometimes lead to kidney failure and death, although this is rare. The risk of HUS is highest in children aged under five years. Some people become infected but don't develop symptoms. Speak to your GP if you or your child has diarrhoea and: It's particularly frequent or severe It lasts for more than seven days A severe or continuous stomach ache Weight loss Have passed a large amount of very watery diarrhoea Have signs of dehydration – including drowsiness, peeing less than usual, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy If you or your child has bloody diarrhoea contact your GP practice and ask for an urgent appointment or call NHS 111 '[We] just can't imagine another child fighting for their life or parents living through this hell, when we could have warned families,' they wrote. 'Stay vigilant parents and get your kids in early if symptoms arise after a lake day.' 'The faster you get your kids in, the better the odds.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
An Oklahoma toddler fights for her life after contracting multiple strains of E. coli after swimming at Keystone Lake
A 2-year-old is fighting for her life after contracting three strains of E. coli while swimming in Keystone Lake, her family says. Toddler Elisabeth Faircloth was swimming and boating with her family in Oklahoma in early June when she started feeling sick. The child was prescribed antibiotics for strep throat, but her condition only worsened. "It's a nightmare, and it happened so fast — within like a week, we're here," Suzanne Faircloth, the girl's mother, told KOTV. The antibiotic actually aggravated her infection, she told the outlet. At the emergency room, doctors told her family that the child had contracted three strains of E. coli, leading to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), an infection that affects the kidneys, according to Cleveland Clinic. "It blows our minds, because we've never even heard of anything like this ever happening," Faircloth said. "We've heard of E. coli — but usually in hamburgers." The little girl is still in the intensive care unit. "They are working night and day — the staff is amazing — just to keep her stable," Faircloth told KOTV about the hospital staff. "It kind of feels like you're drowning and you get brief moments of air just enough to keep you alive, but there's no end in sight." Melissa Lynne, the child's aunt, wrote in a social media post last week that her kidneys have been 'most severely' impacted. 'She is currently on dialysis and has been medically paralyzed in order to give her little body the best chance at conquering this thing,' she wrote. 'Although the prognosis is hopeful, it will be a very long battle to get her well again and it's uncertain if she will ever recover 100% or if there will be permanent kidney and/or brain damage.' She now is fighting an infection in her lungs, the family wrote on Facebook Monday, noting that doctors can't use the typical treatment — antibiotics — since that will only worsen her condition. In a social media post, they added: '[We] just can't imagine another child fighting for their life or parents living through this hell, when we could have warned families. Stay vigilant parents and get your kids in early if symptoms arise after a lake day.' 'The faster you get your kids in the better the odds,' they said.
