The devastated dad of a four-year-old girl fighting for her life in Alder Hey after contracting Strep A has warned parents to be "alert to the symptoms" and "act quickly."
Four-year-old Camila Rose Burns from Bolton had been dancing with her friends last Friday before becoming unwell. Last weekend she was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool and is currently on a ventilator.
Her dad said that hospital staff described her as "the poorliest girl in the whole of England”. Dean Burns said he has been "living in an absolute nightmare" since her condition worsened last weekend.
READ MORE: Strep A case confirmed in Merseyside as sixth child dies
Speaking to the BBC today he is now warning parents with "any doubts" to take their children to hospital. Dean said: "Any doubts if they don't look right just scoop them up and take them get them checked out.
"We are praying that she will make a full recovery. We are devastated and she is such a beautiful little girl."
Camila was taken to hospital last Saturday where she was prescribed an inhaler and told she could go home – but her health deteriorated a day later. Mr Burns told Sky News: “She just completely changed. She was restless.”
After being taken back to hospital, Camila needed life-saving intervention. Mr Burns added: “We shouted some nurses down and we had to leave the room. They put her to sleep and she’s been on a ventilator ever since, keeping her alive. It’s the worst thing that can ever happen to anybody.”
The UK Health Agency confirmed yesterday that a case of the invasive bacterial infection had been detected in Knowsley. The news comes after six children have died after contracting the illness, known by its full name as Group A streptococcus.
Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to deadly diseases. Illnesses include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria causes a life-threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal disease. According to UKHSA data, there have been 2.3 cases of invasive disease per 100,000 children aged one to four this year in England, compared with an average of 0.5 in the pre-pandemic seasons (2017 to 2019).
Health officials are urging parents to contact NHS 111 or their GP if their child is getting worse, is feeding or eating much less than normal, has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration. They should also seek help if their baby is under three months and has a temperature of 38C, or is older than three months with a temperature of 39C or higher. A very tired or irritable child is also a red flag.
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