Latest news with #seizures
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Horror as eight children from same choir suffer SEIZURES while performing at Massachusetts concert
Eight children from the same choir were raced to hospital mid-performance after suffering seizures in a church. The horror episode unfolded around 7pm Monday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as the children all experienced seizures at the same time. Some of the children said that they started feeling unwell during their choir performance at St. Paul's Parish church due to an odor, reports WCVB. Witnesses also told first responders they smelled an odor, however crews reportedly said they did not detect any strange smells when they arrived. All of the children were aged between 11 and 13 and were originally from France. Cambridge Fire Chief Thomas Cahill said that the situation 'quickly escalated', and said the children were all transported to nearby hospitals. Their condition is unknown. 'This was somewhat unusual,' Cahill said. 'It was a routine medical call that quickly escalated into transporting eight children to the hospital. Not common.'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Chaos' as critically ill child dies in hospital
The parents of a 20-month-old toddler have described how their son died amid hospital "chaos" four hours after they heard him crying in bed. Artemis Sanson, or Arty as he was known to his family, passed away in June 2024 after suffering "complex febrile seizures". His parents believe their son's emergency treatment faced delays. Medway NHS Foundation Trust told the BBC it had no comment to make at the moment, but "will be issuing a statement once the inquest has concluded". Storm Sanson, Arty's mother, told the inquest that she had found her son in bed covered in vomit with mottled skin and blue lips. Arty was born with a hole in his heart which was operated on and his parents had been warned to call 999 if they noticed similar symptoms to what he was experiencing. Ms Sanson described how the ambulance journey lasted about an hour as paramedics tried to treat her son's multiple seizures. After arriving at Medway Maritime Hospital she said doctors were "arguing with each other and no one could seem to agree" about the best treatment plan for Arty. She said: "No parent wants to watch their child die in front of their eyes but I can promise you that it is etched into my brain." Jamie Stephenson, Arty's father, said there was "chaos" in the room where his son was being treated. "A lot of the staff seemed blasé about the whole situation," he said. "There was a lot of joking and two nurses were talking about what outfits they would wear at the weekend." Consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Liina Palm, who oversaw Arty's post-mortem examination, told coroner Catherine Wood she believed a pneumonia infection and sepsis played a part in the child's death. "Sepsis can become very rapid, and in my opinion that might explain why it would be so sudden" she said. The inquest has been adjourned. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Mum asks for 'fearless' inquest into baby's death HM Courts and Tribunals Service Solve the daily Crossword
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I lost all feeling in my legs, peed myself, smashed my face and felt suicidal after doing £150 of laughing gas every day
JORDAN Micu first tried laughing gas as a university student aged 21. Almost a decade later, she was left battling petrifying seizures and was forced to relearn to walk after losing control of both her legs. The financial worker, now 30, tells Sun Health: 'I was absolutely terrified. 'I felt like I was trapped in my own brain, like my mind had turned on me and I couldn't do anything about it. 'It was really scary.' Jordan was studying maths at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, United States, when she was first offered nitrous oxide - usually sold to aerate whipped cream but widely abused. She thought it was simply something she would do 'recreationally' with friends, but by 2023, she was hooked. 'At that time I didn't immediately form an addiction or anything like that,' she says. 'It was just very casual use over the next couple of years until it became an everyday thing.' Jordan, who blames loneliness and boredom from working a remote job for her addiction, was soon going through three to four canisters a day and forking out more than $200 (£147) for them. Shocking footage shows her inhaling the gas straight from the tanks, which she claims were easily accessible to purchase at smoke shops. And things soon took a turn. Jordan, who is training to be an actuary, had her first seizure in November 2023, during which she smashed her face on her bathroom floor. Although she describes the moment as 'scary', it wasn't enough to deter her from continuing the habit. Jordan had another handful of seizures, and in September 2024 after a five-day EEG to measure her brains' electrical activity, doctors diagnosed her with epilepsy. She was prescribed medication and sent home. But just weeks later, Jordan collapsed while getting out of bed, having lost control of both her legs. She was forced to use a walker for two weeks while she relearned how to put one foot in front of the other. Once recovered physically, Jordan checked herself into rehab in Los Angeles, California, on February 11, 2025. It has been more than four months since she last inhaled laughing gas, and she is now sharing her story to raise awareness of the dangers of the substance. Jordan, from Chicago, Illinois, says: 'I was very lonely. 'I was working remotely and didn't have any friends, and that absolutely contributed to everything. 'I think the main reason I started using laughing gas was because I didn't know anybody to buy other drugs from and I knew I could legally buy canisters in shops. 'I would do it all night. I would wake up, inhale it and go back to sleep. 'I woke up one day and tried to get out of bed to use the bathroom and I immediately fell. I couldn't feel my legs anymore. 16 16 16 'A very common symptom is loss of bladder control. 'I was actually at that point where I was using the bathroom in bed sometimes. 'That awful day, I was rushing out of bed and trying to run to the bathroom when I completely slid on the floor and couldn't feel my legs. 'I felt a lot of numbness and tingling. I could feel my toes but they felt like pins and needles because of the damage I had done to my nerves. 'Despite all of this, it didn't really register that I had a severe problem at the time.' SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a colourless gas. It's a Class C drug and it's illegal to possess it in the UK and US unless for legitimate use in medical, dental, veterinary and culinary settings. Those caught with nitrous oxide for unlawful use face a caution, community service or an unlimited fine. Repeat offenders could serve up to two years in prison, and the maximum sentence for the production or supply of the drug for unlawful purposes is 14 years. It also carries some serious health risks. Heavy use can cause headaches, dizziness, anxiety, neurological damage, paralysis and even death. NITROUS oxide - also known as laughing gas or hippy crack - was recently made a Class C due to the dangers associated with the drug. It can cause a range of health issues and in some cases can even be fatal. Some common side effects from inhaling the gas are dizziness, nausea, disorientation, loss of balance and weakness in legs, according to a study on its risks published to the National Library of Medicine. Nitrous oxide can impair memory and thinking, the research mentioned. Some users might also feel anxious or paranoid. According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), the gas from nitrous oxide bulbs is intensely cold, sometimes as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. Inhaling directly from the canister or crackers - handheld devices used to 'crack' open canister - can cause frostbite on the nose, lips and throat, even the vocal cords. The icy chill of the gas canisters can also cause cold burns to the hands. Long term, heavy use of laughing gas can cause a lack of vitamin B12. Severe deficiency can lead to serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes. Lack of B12 can also cause damage to the spinal cord. In some cases, frequent and prolonged use of nitrous oxide has been linked to thromboembolic events - this means a blood clot has gotten stuck and caused an obstruction. The so-called laughing gas has also resulted in deaths. Jordan says the gas affected her ability to absorb vitamin B12 and she will need injections for the rest of her life to correct this. It also impacted her mental health, leaving her feeling more alone than ever. 'I was very depressed, lying in my bed a lot, sleeping. I was a shell of a person,' Jordan says. 'There were so many times that I was using it where I was like, 'Please just let this be the one that does it, that ends my life'. 'It's really sad and scary to look back now. 16 16 16 16 'I started feeling like a failure to my family because they noticed I was using something. 'My brother told me if I didn't go to rehab he wouldn't talk to me again. So that's what made me ultimately go. 'I have a lot of memory loss from that period as it really did affect my brain. 'I have been working very hard to train my brain to focus on things again, but it isn't back to normal.' She adds: 'This is not a game. It doesn't feel serious while you're using it, but the longer you do it, the more seriously it affects you. 'It is absolutely too easy to buy. The smoke shop that I would go to is three minutes away. I could walk there.' 16 16 16 16 16 16
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I had no symptoms of killer condition until it struck on holiday – but medics just blamed heatstroke
WHEN Moli Morgan started feeling unwell on holiday in Turkey a doctor at the resort told her it was likely just heatstroke. So the 22-year-old was shocked just days later to discover her symptoms were actually a sign of a life-threatening brain tumour. 10 10 10 "I had no real warning signs before or during the holiday," the young farmer, from Powys in Wales, said. "I have only ever had a migraine but didn't think anything of it at the time," she added. Then, the night before flying home in October last year, Moli suffered two seizures while in Antalya with her boyfriend, 22-year-old mechanic Ollie Higgins. "We'd had a lovely week there, it was really relaxed and there was a water park at the hotel which was great," she explained. "It was hot but not unbearable, around 28-30C," But that night, she suffered a seizure at around 1am, followed by a second one about 20 minutes later. Ollie, whom Moli had been with for six years, called for the medics at the resort. "They had a doctor on site at the hotel who told me it was probably just heatstroke," Moli said. "We had been in the sun all day and I hadn't drank much water, so I sort of thought nothing more of it and that is was probably just heatstroke, and we flew home the next evening," she explained, When she got home, one of Moli's three sisters, a nurse, suggested she go to hospital "just to be on the safe side", she said The six warning signs of brain tumours Moli went to Shrewsbury Hospital, where an MRI scan revealed a 4cm brain tumour called a glioma on the left side of her brain. A glioma is a type of tumour that starts in the brain or spinal cord from glial cells, which support nerve cells and can be deadly. "I just couldn't believe it, as I had no other real symptoms and felt completely fine," she said. "It was obviously very scary and you expect the worst when you're told you have a brain tumour," she added. Moli stayed in hospital for four to five days, taking anti-seizure medication before she was allowed home. She was later transferred to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, where she met with consultant neurologist Dr Erminia Albanese and her team to discuss her treatment options. 10 10 10 For the operation to remove the tumour, Moli was told she would have to be awake to ensure the language centre of her brain wasn't being damaged. "I didn't even really think about it, I just thought do whatever you need to do," she said. Moli had the procedure in December, with an interpreter present so she could communicate during the surgery and the team could monitor her to ensure she didn't lose the ability to speak Welsh - her first language - afterwards. "There was like this powerpoint presentation with basic things like animals and food on them - and I had to repeat the words back," Moli explained. "There was a couple of times I didn't get it right, so they knew that was the part affecting my language and not to interfere there," she added. "It's mind-blowing what they can do really." 10 'Everything has been positive since' Moli only remembers bits of the operation, which went on for four hours. "I had around 28 staples in my head and stayed in for a couple of days before I was allowed to go home," she said. "I've had two follow up MRI scans and after my next one they will start doing them every six months, so I'm still being monitored but everything has been positive since," she added. The surgeon, Dr Erminia Albanese, added: "It was important we had our interpreter, Ben, with us during the operation. "He would say a word in English and Moli had to reply in Welsh to ensure she could speak both Welsh and English after the tumour was removed. "It was amazing to see Moli and her Mum, her recovery has been incredible, and it's great to see her doing well after the surgery." The most common symptoms of a brain tumour More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives. The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis. There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment. Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return. Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS. They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision. The nine most common symptoms are: Headaches Seizures Feeling sick Being sick Memory problems Change in personality Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body Vision problems Speech problems If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP. Source: NHS Moli and her mum, Carol, have now presented a cheque for £345 to Ward 228. and members of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Charity team. It was all was raised through a carol singing night organised by The Wales Federation of Young Farmers. Carol said: "It's so nice to be back here to see and thank everyone for their care. "We have lots of memories of being here and our outcome has been very good." 10 10
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Doctors said my baby boy had colic – now he lives with a lifelong seizure disorder and too many brain tumours to count
WHEN five-month-old Thomas Ward began screaming inconsolably on Valentine's Day in 2012, doctors told his mum Philippa that he likely had colic and might be teething. Nine days later, 'the bottom fell out' of Philippa's world when her son was diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes tumours to form on numerous organs, including the brain. 6 Thomas is now 13 and has "more tumours than doctors can count". His devastating condition impacts nearly every aspect of his life, causing developmental delays, terrifying three-hour seizures, and the need for a wheelchair. Here, Philippa, 47, a communications professional from York, tells their story… 'YOU can't possibly think Thomas is having seizures, can you?' I will never forget the response from the out-of-hours doctor when I took my then-five-month-old son to the hospital one weekend in February 2012 after he began behaving unusually, crying incessantly and making strange, jerky movements. We were dismissed and told it was likely a simple case of colic - when a baby cries a lot but there is no obvious cause - or that he might be teething. Unhappy with this outcome, and as the symptoms continued, a few days later I took Thomas to see our local GP. She agreed he was behaving unusually and wrote to the paediatrician at the local hospital. There was no indication that Thomas had a medical problem that needed to be urgently addressed, but my instincts told me otherwise. The following day, I packed a bag, took my older son Ben to nursery and walked to A&E with Thomas. As soon as the doctor saw him, he diagnosed Thomas with infantile spasms - a rare and damaging form of epilepsy. He then revealed my wonderful little boy might have tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), but he would have to be transferred to a larger hospital for an MRI scan to confirm the diagnosis. It was a terrifying time. February 29 is recognised around the world as Rare Disease Day, and it also happens to be the day Thomas was officially diagnosed with TSC, which causes tumours to form on the eyes, heart, kidneys, skin, lungs and brain. My legs gave way when we found out. It felt as though the bottom had fallen out of my world. My husband David and I learned that our son had numerous tumours on his brain and that they could cause cognitive impairment, developmental delays, behavioural problems, autism spectrum disorder, and seizures, which often cannot be adequately controlled using standard medications. We were also told that there are no approved therapies that address the root cause of TSC, so our only care options for Thomas were various therapies, symptom-based medications and possibly surgery. The days that followed were a blur. 6 6 Despite an estimated one million people living with it worldwide, TSC is classified as a rare disease. If Thomas hadn't been diagnosed with it, I'd probably never have heard of it myself. Thomas underwent a few more tests before being discharged from hospital. As we were leaving, the neurologist handed us a leaflet from the Tuberous Sclerosis Association (TSA) - the UK charity dedicated to helping families affected by TSC. It felt like a strange consolation prize after receiving such a massive, life-changing diagnosis, but it became a lifeline, signposting to many of the resources and support available to us. We also joined a newly-formed Facebook group for other parents of children with TSC, and through that met some people who have gone on to become friends. But TSC continues to affect us every single day. Thomas is now 13, and like many people with TSC, he experiences seizures most days. At one point, Thomas was having up to eight seizures a day. Today, he typically still has at least one, usually right after waking up. They can last up to three hours at a time. He is not able to verbally communicate and has delayed motor skills. He often uses a wheelchair for outings to ensure his safety. Thomas requires regular medical scans and monitoring to track his tumours - there are now too many on his brain to count. He has been on numerous anti-epileptic medications, but none have fully relieved him from the exhausting seizures. TSC has put our entire family on a rollercoaster ride. As parents, there has been so much to learn about having a child with complex medical and developmental needs. FAMILY IMPACT It is especially difficult for us to witness the effect on our elder son, Ben. By age three, he could recognise a seizure and learned to alert us if Thomas was having one. There is nothing more heartbreaking than hearing a toddler shout: 'Seizure, seizure!' Ben, now 15, is very aware of his brother's needs. He understands the importance of being quiet in the evenings so Thomas can sleep. There are many activities we can't do as a family due to safety and accessibility issues. As a young carer, Carers UK provides him with support and resources when needed. 6 6 Despite the challenges Thomas has faced throughout his life, he remains a lovely young man with a vibrant personality and clear passions. He is a remarkable problem solver and even though he cannot speak, he is able to communicate very effectively when he wants something. He's a gentle and affectionate soul and a joy to be around. Thomas' favourite foods are chips, toast and avocado - he also loves ketchup and mayonnaise. He enjoys going on train rides, car journeys, watching YouTube videos and listening to music. His favourite person in the world is his big brother. One of the most important things we've learned since Thomas' diagnosis is the importance of community, especially one that understands your unique circumstances. What is tuberous sclerosis complex? ABOUT one million people worldwide are living with tuberous sclerosis complex, and up to 11,000 are diagnosed in the UK. It causes non-cancerous tumours to grow on the brain, as well as the eyes, heart, skin, kidneys and lungs. These tumours, which impact the central nervous system, can result in cognitive impairment, developmental delays, behavioural problems, autism, and seizures, which often can't be controlled by standard medicines. The condition can also cause skin abnormalities (such as patches of light-coloured or thickened skin, or red acne-like spots on the face), breathing difficulties, hyperactivity, kidney issues and a build-up of fluid on the brain. TSC is present from birth, although it may not cause obvious problems immediately. It is caused by changes in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene, which are involved in regulating cell growth. There is no cure, but medicine, surgery and educational support can help. Many people with TSC will have a normal lifespan, although a number of life-threatening complications can develop. These include a loss of kidney function, a serious lung infection called bronchopneumonia and a severe type of epileptic seizure called status epilepticus. Patients may also have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as kidney cancer, but this is rare. Source: NHS Families impacted by serious conditions, especially rare diseases, often find themselves feeling isolated and alone in the weeks and months following a diagnosis. We are hugely fortunate to have our own family close by, and they are a great support to us, as is the wider TSC community around the UK and beyond. Since Thomas' diagnosis, I have done everything in my power to advocate for TSC awareness. I took part in the Great North Run to raise money for the TSA, have spoken at conferences and awareness events, shared our family's story with my workplace, and advocated for the TSC community within the NHS. There are a number of messages that I hope people take away from our family's story. Firstly, research for rare diseases like TSC is critical. While only between 3,700 and 11,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with TSC, each of these diagnoses impacts everyone in the patient's life. 'On constant alert' Having a treatment for TSC would be amazing. Thomas' frequent seizures require everyone in our house to be on constant alert. It's not easy, but Thomas is a wonderful young man, and he makes it all worthwhile. We remain hopeful that there will one day be a treatment that can improve Thomas' quality of life - and ours. I also want to remind parents of children with TSC, or any rare disease, of the importance of living in the present. When your child is diagnosed with a condition like TSC, it's understandable to ask: Why does my child have this disease? What will our future look like? We immediately begin grieving the child we thought we would have. I still don't fully understand why Thomas has TSC, but David and I are able to find tremendous joy in our lives with our son every day. The best things we can do are keep him safe, meet him where he is, help him enjoy life, and love every part of who he is. I look forward to the day when Thomas and others with TSC can access safe and effective treatment options. Until then, I am committed to making the world more inclusive and understanding. When it might not be colic ALL babies cry, but one may have colic if they cry for more than three hours a day, three days a week for at least one week. It may also be colic if, while they are crying: It's hard to soothe or settle your baby They clench their fists They go red in the face They bring their knees up to their tummy or arch their back Their tummy rumbles or they're very windy Colic is common, affecting up to 40 per cent of babies, and it usually stops by the time babies turn three or four months old. But there are other reasons your baby may be crying. These include: hunger, a dirty nappy, wind, reflux and constipation. Call NHS 111 or see a GP if: You're worried about your baby's crying Your baby has colic and nothing seems to be working You're finding it hard to cope Your baby is not growing or putting on weight as expected Your baby still has symptoms of colic after 4 months of age Go to A&E or call 999 if: Your baby has a weak or high-pitched cry Your baby's cry does not sound like their normal cry You know better than anyone else what your child is usually like. Trust your instincts if you think something is seriously wrong, particularly if they have other worrying symptoms. Source: NHS
