We're in shock!

Parent Cafe
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<p>My niece’s baby (age 1 1/2) was hospitalized suddenly on Sunday with necrotizing fasciitis–the “flesh-eating” bacteria disease–in his neck. It was discovered after a fever that followed routine immunizations. He had a stiff neck and a rash under his chin, and the doctor ordered a CT scan which revealed a gas bubble in his neck. Surgery was performed immediately which led to removal of a considerable amount of diseased tissue. He is apparently fortunate to have required only two surgeries, and now he seems to be on the mend, having been extubated yesterday. However, there is enormous damage–he faces reconstructive surgery and therapy to mitigate still unknown effects of losing so much tissue in his neck. He does have excellent care at an outstanding hospital. </p>

<p>Do people have recurrences of this disease? We are at a loss to understand how a healthy baby can have such a disastrous experience. We are hoping that with the resilience of such extreme youth, he will recover much more than adults who have suffered from this. We are still in the “last week at this time, he was a healthy, normal child” stage. The new reality is frightening. I will never look at apparent flu symptoms in the same way again.</p>

<p>The symptoms which one should bring to a doctor’s immediate attention are listed on this website. If you or someone you love has these, make sure you tell your doctor what you suspect so you do not get sent home with antibiotics which will 1) not work and 2) delay the necessary, urgent action.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nnff.org/nnff_factsheet.htm[/url]”>http://www.nnff.org/nnff_factsheet.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>They can be a decoy for so many genuine problems.</p>

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<p>operamom-I sent you a PM.
Best wishes to your family.</p>

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<p>People tend think of this as something new but it’s not. It’s always been around. Flesh-eating bacteria, scarlet fever, strep throat, and rheumatic fever are all just different manifestations of the same disease.</p>

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<p>Two generations of antibiotics and immunizations have made the general public very unaware of just how devastating bacteria can be.</p>

<p>Glad the little one is better.</p>