Toddler With ‘Worst Case’ Of Chickenpox ‘Turned Away’ From Doctors Before Being Hospitalised
A toddler has been hospitalised with the worst case of chickenpox doctors have ever seen.
Little Jasper Allen, two, spent five days in care after the sores, which cover every inch of his body, became severely infected.
But his mother, Sarah, 36, claims that less than 48 hour before he was rushed to hospital, she was told he wasn’t unwell enough to see a doctor.
The mum-of-two was allegedly refused an appointment at her local GP surgery by a receptionist – and is now calling on the government to make a vaccination against the disease free for all on the NHS.
It is currently only offered where there is a clinical need. This includes where the child is likely to come into contact with people who are particularly vulnerable to chickenpox, such as those having chemotherapy.
Nursery manager Sarah, from St Neots, Cambridgeshire, said: “I was one of those parents who couldn’t wait for my two [kids] to get chickenpox so then it was out of the way — I didn’t think there was any harm in letting him get it.
Jasper got chickenpox days after suffering from scarlet fever (Mercury)
“But to see him get it like that and see how it took over his body was just heart-breaking.
“It was definitely not ‘just chickenpox’ and I want people to realise this.
"Everyone’s reactions in the hospital were just complete shock over how severe it was — the doctors all wanted to come and see this worst ever case of chickenpox.
"There was even talk about using the pictures for a medical journal. One of the paediatric nurses with 40 years’ experience said she had never seen anything like it.
Sarah, who also has daughter Poppy, five with 38-year-old postman husband Keith Allen, noticed a few spots on Jasper in July after the tot had first developed scarlet fever the week before.
Sarah said: "When I first called our local GP’s surgery I spoke to the receptionist to make an appointment for Jasper but when I told her it was chickenpox she said to me 'every mother thinks their child has bad chickenpox’.
“I knew I wasn’t being a neurotic mother — I have two children and have run a nursery and seen hundreds of kids with chickenpox before so I knew this wasn’t normal.”
Jasper’s mum, Sarah, was allegedly turned away from a GP surgery (Mercury)
“They should listen to parents more — we know our babies better than anybody in the world.”
"As we were sat in the waiting room waiting for a bed I could see this redness in his chest spreading all over him before my eyes.
"We couldn’t hold him for three days because he screamed every time we touched him.”
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Chickenpox is usually a mild illness in children with most recovering quickly.
"The vaccine is not routinely offered to children although the Government’s expert vaccination advisers are reviewing this.
"The vaccine aims to protect those who are at risk from serious illness.
"That’s why it is recommended for children with family members who are undergoing medical treatments such as chemotherapy which can affect immunity."
Sarah, Poppy, Japser and Keith (Mercury)
A spokesman for Cambridge and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said the CCG is unable to comment upon individual patient cases.
He added: “If you are ever concerned about your child’s health then call NHS 111 who can give advice or refer to an appropriate NHS service, including A&E if necessary.”
(Credit: Mercury)
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