A LITTLE boy was left paralysed after suffering a rare complication of chickenpox.
Freddie Rushton was just four years old when he had a stroke – a side effect from a bout of chickenpox he’d had 11 months earlier.
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His mum Sarah Kilgariff, 43, said Freddie went to bed absolutely fine [with] no warning signs whatsoever.”
But he woke up the next morning unsteady on his feet, having completely lost use of his left side.
The tot was also unable to speak, with doctors warning the family might not be able to walk again.
But a year on, little Freddie was invited to open open the Stroke Association’s garden at the Chelsea Flower show, beaming ear-to-ear.
Sarah said she “had no idea” this devastating side effect “could happen to children”, Stroke on Trent Live reported.
On the morning of May 9, Sarah noticed Freddie was unsteady on his feet and initially thought he might have an ear infection.
But as Freddie sat on his parents’ bed, he rolled off and hit the wardrobe after losing use of his left side.
This was the moment Freddie suffered a devastating stroke, the family later found out.
“A lot of people don’t realise that can happen,” Sarah said. “We didn’t.
“It was horrific. He lost all use of his left side, but we didn’t think it was a stroke because that wasn’t obvious at the time.
“It looked like his tongue was swelling initially, and he does have an EpiPen. So, I rang the ambulance, and they said to give him his EpiPen.
“When the ambulance turned up, no-one mentioned the word ‘stroke’. They had no idea what was wrong with him.
“He was just kind of out of it, leaning to the left. We ended up at the Royal Stoke in Intensive Care, and they thought he had meningitis initially.”
Freddie underwent an MRI and CT scan in hospital and by the following day, doctors confirmed the four-year-old had suffered a stroke.
As they suspected the stroke had been caused by a bout of chickenpox Freddie had had 11 months earlier, medics performed a lumbar puncture.
This found traces of the virus in Freddie’s spinal fluid.
The virus had spread to his brain, causing the blood vessels to restrict and triggering a stroke.
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According to Stroke Association, children who develop chickenpox may have a four-fold increased risk of stroke for six months after being infected.
But the charity stressed that the actual risk is very small and stroke in children is still rare.
Freddie’s was an even rarer complication, as he had a stroke almost a year after having chickenpox.
BEATING THE ODDS
The tot spent a month at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and was visited every day by his two-year-old sister Millie.
Doctors feared Freddie might not walk again, telling Sarah the chances of him doing so were “50/50”.
Freddie beat the odds by regaining mobility while he was still in hospital, beginning to move his left leg while in the bath.
He also underwent physio and his parents kept encouraging to keep moving.
Sarah said: “He does still have some residual weakness on his left side, like with his grip, and he does stumble a little bit, but I’m hoping with time he’ll build that up.
“One of the major problems now is that he is very emotionally dysregulated, he’s very up-and-down, which he wasn’t before, and he’s back in nappies whereas he was fully potty-trained before.
Chickenpox and horrifying side effects
AN ITCHY and spotty rash is the most recognisable symptom of chickenpox.
The illness happens in three stages.
- Stage one: small red or pink spots appear anywhere on the body, including inside the mouth and around the genitals, which can be painful
- Stage two: the spots fill with fluid and become blisters, which are very itchy and may burst
- Stage three: the spots form a scab
Before or after the rash appears, you might also get:
- A high temperature
- Aches and pains, and generally feeling unwell
- Loss of appetite
Chickenpox will usually get better by itself in one to two weeks without you needing see a GP.
But you should get advice from 111 if:
- The skin around the chickenpox blisters is hot, painful and red – note that redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin
- Your child has chickenpox and is dehydrated
- Chickenpox symptoms suddenly get worse
- You’re pregnant and have not had chickenpox before, or you’re not sure, and you’ve been near someone with chickenpox
- You have a weakened immune system and have been near someone with chickenpox
- You think your newborn baby has chickenpox
Chickenpox complications
Serious complications from chickenpox include:
- Bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues in children, including Group A streptococcal infections
- Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
- Infection or swelling of the brain (encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia)
- Bleeding problems (hemorrhagic complications)
- Bloodstream infections (sepsis)
- Dehydration
Sources: NHS, CDC
“He struggles with his speech, and it’s been difficult accessing the education that he needs.”
Despite this, Freddie remains “a happy little boy” and loves playing outside.
His parents have got involved with the Stroke Association to raise awareness about Freddie’s condition.
Sarah said: “People don’t realise children, teenagers, and young people in their 20s and 30s have strokes.
“It’s shocking, and we’re trying to raise awareness so schools can look out for it. Children can have strokes, babies can have strokes.”
The Stroke Association’s garden at the Chelsea Flower Show was designed by stroke survivor Miria Harris.
It was opened with Freddie’s help on May 20.
The garden will be transported to Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds following the event.
About 400 children suffer a stroke each year in the UK, according to Stroke Association.
Children and young people may experience different symptoms to adults, including:
- Sudden, severe headache
- Seizures
- New and sudden vertigo, dizziness, or confusion
- Problems with walking or balance
- Nausea/vomiting, drowsiness, or loss of consciousness
- Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in both eyes
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Changes in sensation, like pins and needles in arms or legs
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