Mum, Monique Bussenschutt warns parents after toddler suffered brain damage from common illness

An Aussie mum has spoken out about the devastating result of forgetting to book her three-year-old son in for his flu shot.

When Monique Bussenschutt forgot to vaccinate her three-year-old son this year against the flu, she had no idea he’d end up in the PICU.

Last month, little Clive contracted influenza B and his temperature shot up to 41 degrees.

“He started shaking uncontrollably, he was having seizures, his heart rate was over 210 and his oxygen was low,” the mum-of-four said.

Ms Bussenschutt called the ambulance to their Nildottie home and Clive was rushed to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.

By the time Clive arrived at the hospital he lost consciousness.

“I’ll never forget the day,” the 32-year-old said.

“We had a whole team come and tell us there were significant changes to his brain.

“It was absolutely awful, we just broke down.”

Clive was diagnosed with encephalopathy and suffered permanent brain damage.

“He is in rehab now trying to get back to his baseline,” Ms Bussenschutt said.

“I didn’t think something like (this) really happened.”

Clive’s rehab comes after five days of brain treatment to target the inflammation caused by the influenza.

Clive Bussenschutt, 3, has suffered brain damage after contracting influenza. Picture: Supplied

When Clive contracted the flu his temperature reached 41 degrees. Picture: Supplied

For Ms Bussenschutt, she said she “hadn’t found the time” to vaccinate Clive against influenza after he underwent an unrelated surgery.

“But even still, now, Clive will be immunised once he is recovered as much as he can from this,” she said.

Clive’s diagnosis comes as the state government introduces free no-needle influenza vaccines for children aged between two and five, to be rolled out from next year ahead of the flu season.

“We will be doing this,” Ms Bussenschutt said.

“A nasal spray is so much easier than a needle — while it can be slightly irritating for the kids, it’s way less invasive and it’s over so quickly and pain-free.”

Clive’s mum Monique said she couldn’t find the time to vaccinate Clive after he underwent an unrelated surgery this year. Picture: Supplied

Only around 27 per cent of young children are getting the flu vaccine in South Australia. Picture: Supplied

The needle-free vaccine — called FluMist — will be available via GPs.

Health Minister Chris Picton said South Australia has seen around 1800 young children affected by the flu and over 170 of those end up in hospitals suffering severe effects.

“Only about 27 per cent of those young kids at the moment are getting vaccinated and this new FluMist product, we are optimistic, will lead to a much higher level of vaccination rate next year,” Mr Picton said.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said not to underestimate the flu.

“It can cause severe consequences, particularly in young children that can include pneumonia, middle ear infection, croup, but it can also can include brain inflammation,” Prof Spurrier said.

Prof Spurrier said while the technology has been approved for use for people between the ages of two and 19, the government has decided to make it available for those children between the ages of two and five.

“We’re going to focus on those little ones because we know they have the highest rate of hospitalisation,” she said.

Originally published as Mum, Monique Bussenschutt warns parents after toddler suffered brain damage from common illness