A boy of three's skin was left ‘burning’ after a near fatal reaction to just half a teaspoon of a children's painkiller.
George Williams was left fighting for his life after a reaction to Nurofen - a commonly used over-the counter medicine - triggered a condition that caused him to be covered in huge blisters which split open.
George was struck down with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis syndrome - which affects just one in half a million people, three weeks ago.
The condition, usually triggered by an allergic reaction, causes the sufferer’s skin to blister and burn, starting from the inside out.
His skin was so raw that his mother Debbie, 26, was not even able to cuddle him.
But George has made an incredible recovery - and only a month after he was taken into intensive care, has been able to return to nursery.
Debbie, from Scunthorpe, said: 'Within a few hours of George taking the painkiller, his eyes had swollen up and started to close.
'I phoned an ambulance straight away, and he was taken to intensive care. His skin started to go red and open up - it was terrifying.
'Within a day, he looked like he’d fallen in a bonfire. His body was covered in huge blisters, his skin had split open and doctors were worried that his open wounds would get infected.
'He was in so much pain and couldn’t see because his eyes were so swollen. All I wanted to do was cuddle him, but I wasn’t allowed to touch him. It broke my heart.
'We’ve been told that he may not be able to cry properly in the future because of damage to his eyes - but that’s a small price to pay for having him alive.'
Debbie had given George half a teaspoon of children’s liquid Nurofen after he complained of feeling unwell and had a soaring temperature four weeks ago.
At first he responded well but within a couple of hours, Debbie noticed that her son’s lips had become dry and cracked.
She said: 'I didn’t think anything of giving George some painkiller to bring his temperature down - he’d never had Nurofen before, but I read the instructions carefully and gave him the correct dose.
'Within a few hours, his lips were like open sores and the cracked skin had started to spread all over his face.
'I knew something wasn’t right and called 999 for an ambulance. Doctors told me later that if I hadn’t got him to hospital straightaway, he would probably have lost his sight.'
George was taken to Scunthorpe General Hospital where he was treated with antibiotics but he was transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital when his condition worsened.
Debbie said:'By now, George had open sores on his back and his skin was literally peeling away. It looked as if he had been scalded. It was horrific.
'The doctors diagnosed TENS which is also known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and because it is so rare they were consulting doctors in New Zealand.
'It was every mother’s nightmare to see their child like that. Once they realised what they were dealing with, the doctors were amazing.
'However, even they were surprised at how quickly George recovered once he started on the right medication.
'He was home a week after the treatment started - and is now well enough to go back to nursery.'
She continued: 'The condition is exceptionally rare but I would like to raise awareness about TENS because of the rapid and terrifying way it can affect people.
'I cannot believe the remarkable recovery George has made and doctors said it is very unusual for him not to have any side effects.
'If telling George’s story saves just one other person it will be worth it.'
George’s father Ben, 26, is now planning to hold a charity bike ride to raise money for both hospitals.
He said: 'Until you rely on their help, you take for granted that we have a great medical system.'
Michael Cork, professor of dermatology and a consultant at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, said: 'TENS is a very serious dermatological condition caused by an allergic reaction, which is extremely rare and only affects around one in half-a-million.
'We are pleased that, with the expertise of the team, George has made an excellent recovery and we wish him well.'
Dr Aomesh Bhatt, UK medical director of Nurofen for Children medicine said: 'We are very sorry to hear about this case and will investigate fully.
'Children's ibuprofen has a very well established safety record and allergic reactions to ibuprofen are extremely rare.'
.
0 Penyokong CHELSEA:
Post a Comment