Child dies after contracting the flu, another 18 hospitalised at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead
TWO-year-old Sienna’s mum called her doctor friend worried on Saturday. Fast forward 24 hours and the family was mourning the loss of their youngest and watching their oldest in a hospital bed fight for their life with the same influenza strain.
Parramatta
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TWO-year-old Sienna’s mum called her good friend Dr Kathryn Browning Carmo worried on Saturday.
Fast forward 24 hours and the family was mourning the loss of their youngest daughter and watching her four-year-old sister fighting for life in a hospital bed with the same influenza strain.
The Beaumont Hills family rang their friend who works at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead as a statewide retrieval consultant, saying their bubbly toddler was lethargic on Saturday afternoon.
“A very intuitive mum rang me and said her daughter wasn’t well. She’s a very good mum and her level of concern is what triggered me to tell her to call an ambulance or take her to the hospital as quickly as possible,” Dr Browning Carmo said.
The doctor heard her friend tell of her child’s lethargy, 40 degree temperature, shaking and being able to feel her heart racing “really fast”.
She said the system worked well but the flu virus the two-year-old had was “so virulent and caused severe brain inflammation”.
“The hospital were great. They treated her straight away. She got all the treatment she needed.”
The family knew on Sunday morning there was little that could be done and by 6.05pm the family had said their goodbyes.
Dr Browning Carmo saw her friend in hospital and said mum knew in her heart things were bad.
“She just couldn’t believe it was happening to her baby. Neither could I. I work in that environment and see it all the time but it’s a completely different situation when it’s someone’s child you’re really fond of.
“To add insult to injury, she had her eldest with the same virus. So she had to stay in the hospital to look after the four-year-old.”
Sienna’s send off at Castlebrook Memorial Park today included a special recording from the two-year-old’s favourite band, The Wiggles with her favourite song Popcorn.
“It was a pretty magical send off. She’s such a good mum. There’s no way she could have prevented this. It’s just a gruesome thing that came and took her baby.”
Dr Browning Carmo said the flu virus wasn’t always innocuous.
“I guess the message is, we need to have the whole community vaccinated. Even with vaccinations, people still die.”
Sienna is among 19 children admitted to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead for the flu.
It is the first death this year from influenza A, an acute respiratory illness caused by a virus.
Remaining hospitalisations at the western Sydney hospital ranged in age from one month to seven-year-old.
The devastating news of the child’s death last weekend has NSW Health again urging parents to vaccinate their children.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant said 15 of the children were eligible for the free flu vaccine, which is given in two doses for first-time flu vaccinations.
“We know that 15 of the children were eligible for the free flu vaccine but only two of them had been fully vaccinated against flu,” Dr Chant said.
Almost all of the 256 confirmed flu cases last week, contracted influenza A, which caused the 2009 pandemic where more than 650 people died from complications associated with the flu.
And, 74 of those 256 cases were from the Western Sydney Local Health District, the highest across the entire state by 36.
After last year’s 103,000 reported influenza cases, the virus hit its peak in August with 48,600 reported illnesses across all strains.
Confirmed cases are people that present at medical centres or hospitals, and represent only a portion of illness in the community. Experts believe the flu season has started later than usual this year.
The State Government this year kicked off its free flu jab for under-fives and has been pushing it with a statewide campaign since January to avoid the high numbers this year.
It’s worked with only 5052 reported cases statewide this year to date.
The government is spending $22.75 million on programs to assist with flue prevention this season including $3.5 million for free flu shots for children up to five years and a $1.75 million prevention campaign.
There are three types of influenza virus — A, B and C — A is more serious than the others and is the only type known to cause widespread outbreaks.
The virus is always changing with a new strain coming out each winter. People that contract influenza usually get better within a week by resting, taking mild pain killers, drinking plenty of fluid, eating light foods, but in some cases, the flu can be severe and lead to serious complications like pneumonia.
Those more susceptible include young children, the elderly, pregnant women, indigenous people and those with chronic health problems.
Dr Chant said the death was a timely reminder to parents who have not yet vaccinated their children.
“Influenza can be life-threatening and it’s not too late to vaccinate,” she said.
“Flu case numbers across the state are starting to rise and influenza A, which mostly strikes children and young adults, is the key strain circulating in the community.”
Dr Chant said there were plenty of supplies for under-fives to be vaccinate
“Just call ahead to your GP to check they have it in stock or give them time to order more vaccines,” she said.
The flu vaccine is also free for those who are pregnant, aboriginal, aged 65 years or more, or have medical conditions such as severe asthma, diabetes and heart problems.
“Vaccination is the best protection against flu but you can also help prevent it spreading by coughing and sneezing into your elbow, cleaning your hands regularly and staying home when sick.”
A GoFundMe page has been created to support the family.