Deadly bacteria results in six-year-old girl losing her leg
- 10.04.2017
- EmmaArnold
- Clinical-negligence, Clinical-negligence
A young girl has lost her leg after she developed a flesh-eating bug from a common throat infection.
Tessa Puma, a six-year-old dancer from the USA, was diagnosed with a bacterial infection in her throat and tonsils.
However, she developed flu-like symptoms and complained of pain in her limbs so her parents took her to two hospitals where doctors eventually found the rare infection.
The bacteria from Tessa's throat traveled through her blood to the tissue in her legs resulting in necrotising fasciitis.
Lesley Herbertson, senior clinical negligence solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:
Necrotising fasciitis is a rare but frightening bacterial infection which damages skin tissue and any surrounding muscle and organs. It can start with only a very minor injury and so it’s important for individuals and their treating doctors to be alive to worrying signs such as: pain which is disproportionate to the injury, fever, swelling or redness around the affected area.
Treatment often involves surgical removal of the affected tissue with antibiotic cover in addition. Speed is of the essence and requires a combined sense of urgency from the patient in getting themselves to hospital soon after their symptoms develop and medical staff appreciating what they are dealing with straight away and then actioning next steps.
This serious infection can result in further complications such as sepsis which can be deadly. A medical negligence solicitor has previously commented on whether enough was being done to raise awareness about sepsis which you can read here.
Why not read about a clinical negligence claim of PotterReesDolan where our client had her leg amputated after she developed septicemia.
Lesley Herbertson is a senior clinical negligence solicitor with PotterReesDolan. Should you have any queries about negligence due to sepsis or other serious infections or indeed any other clinical negligence issues and wish to speak to Lesley or any other member of the team please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or email Lesley.