Fighting for his life after Covid... at SIX
Mum raising awareness of inflammatory disease that kicks in later
THESE shocking pictures show six-year-old Oliver Patterson fighting for his life after being struck down by a rare childhood disease linked to Covid-19.
Oliver’s heart stopped working properly and his blood pressure plummeted as his body fought a rare inflammatory condition which is similar to Kawasaki disease.
It has put about 200 British kids in intensive care. Mum Laura, 36, said: “It’s a worrying time with the country opening up, now we know how vulnerable children can be.”
Experts say up to 600 British children have developed paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome. It can cause swelling throughout the body, including the heart muscles. Symptoms include a rash, prolonged fever, stomach ache, diarrhoea, bloodshot eyes, a red tongue or red, cracked lips.
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Many who develop it in the weeks after having Covid showed no symptoms of coronavirus.
Oliver, however, did test positive for Covid in March. Three weeks later he had tummy pains and became lethargic and refused to eat. He was taken to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent, where doctors thought he had tonsillitis, before a rash covered his body and his face and eyes swelled shut.
Oliver spent four nights in intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and specialists diagnosed PIMS-TS. Laura, of Crayford, Kent, said: “Oliver was fighting for his life. His heart function deteriorated and he was given different drugs. It was the hardest day of our lives. Yet the day before he fell ill he’d been at the seaside enjoying himself.” Doctors put Oliver on steroid treatment and he “turned a corner” in 48 hours. He is now back home and has the allclear. Laura said: “We don’t want to tell Oliver’s story to scare people, as it’s an incredibly rare condition, but we do want to raise awareness.”
Security guard Tracey Hanley, 31, was told son Marley, five, could end up in an induced coma after developing PIMS. He was rushed to the Evelina two weeks ago. Tracey said: “His little body was in so much pain. Luckily he pulled round.” Marley, of Gravesend, Kent, was given immunoglobulin treatment to boost healthy red blood cells and reduce swelling. He came home last Sunday but is still struggling to walk. Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, of Imperial College London, said 0.01% of young Covid carriers get the “incredibly rare” condition.
His little body was in so much pain, luckily he pulled round
TRACEY HANLEY ON
SON MARLEY’S ORDEAL