A 12-year-old girl from Gateshead ended up in a coma after her flu symptoms were initially dismissed as a 'school bug'. Jessica Williamson was rushed to hospital after her condition deteriorated, where she was diagnosed with Influenza A, which later developed into sepsis and necrotising pneumonia.
Her mother, Ashleigh Moore, 34, said she feared her daughter would die. Jessica spent nearly three weeks on the ICU ward at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where she was given antibiotics to stabilise her infections. She was placed in an induced coma.
Ashleigh 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.'
New figures from the NHS showed a 55% spike in flu patients in a week in December, with average cases rising from 1,717 to 2,660. The NHS is urging eligible people to get their flu vaccine.
Ashleigh is now urging others to get vaccinated and to trust their instincts. She said: 'I'm now urging people to get their flu vaccines. You also need to trust your gut and get a second opinion.'
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where Jessica was initially seen, said it would welcome the opportunity to meet the family. Chief Executive Sean Fenwick said: '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.'
