Check-up that ended in sepsis nightmare
Teenager fought for his life
A DISABLED teenager was left fighting for his life after a routine check-up revealed he had sepsis.
Reece Glass developed the potentially deadly disease following a foot operation.
The 14-year-old from Wallyford, East Lothian, then spent two weeks in intensive care.
His mother, Kelly-Ann Glass, said the sepsis was only detected because he was at hospital for a check-up.
Reece, who has spina bifida, went into the Royal Hospital for sepsis could have been fatal as it was nearly mistaken for flu.
She added: ‘We were so lucky because if it wasn’t for us being in hospital, I was told that he might not have woken up the next morning.
‘I literally just thought he had the flu because the symptoms are flu-like. So I think it is hugely important that people are aware of the symptoms and what it can do. I didn’t know a lot about it but I’ve read a lot more into it now and it is definitely not nice.
‘It was absolutely horrible, I’m so glad he’s still here. I was numb for a good couple of days. I never left his bedside and my mum and sister were always there as well. As a family, it was horrendous.
‘They’ve got on top of it now. He’s on antibiotics and his bloods are improving.’
Miss Glass added: ‘The hospital are still unsure where the sepsis has came from, so there is still a lot of detective work going on behind the scenes.
‘His surgeon is sure that it’s not come from the foot. He has had an MRI scan and several other tests, all coming back negative.’
Last September, the Mail launched its sepsis awareness campaign, revealing that 20,000 Scots are struck down by the illness every year – killing around 4,000 and leaving others with serious long-term complications.
We also highlighted the dangers of the condition by revealing that NHS Grampian had been forced to apologise to the family of a cancer patient who had died from sepsis after an operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The Scottish Government had previously rejected calls for a nationwide sepsis awareness push. But within weeks, following support from a string of politicians – including sepsis survivor Lord Ashdown – Health Secretary Shona Robison announced a U-turn on the decision.
Delayed treatment for British infants with sepsis is driving one of the worst child mortality rates in Europe. Last year, the UK came 19th in a league table of 28 EU countries for under-five mortality – down from ninth in 1990.
Experts believe this is because GPs and NHS call handlers are not specifically trained in child health, unlike doctors in other countries.