A mother who feared her daughter would die from strep A has warned other parents to be on alert for the symptoms.
Five-year-old Eva Page was put into an induced coma and suffered a cardiac arrest after becoming ill two weeks ago.
Her mother Sarah Page, 33, initially thought it was a common cold or fever but took Eva to hospital after her temperature started spiking.
Eva was given antibiotics and sent home but “went blue” and was taken to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill and then Evelina Children’s Hospital in London where doctors decided to put her into an induced coma and on a ventilator on November 27.
Sarah and her husband Dave Page, 35, said they “didn’t know if she was going to make it” and are relieved their daughter is now on the road to recovery.
Sarah, from Horsham, said: “Eva became unwell about two weeks ago with what I thought was a common cold, cough, achy legs and a high fever.
“On the Saturday she started to deteriorate, spiking high temperatures of 39.9C that wouldn't go down so I took her to A&E that night where she was given antibiotics and sent home.
“That night she got worse and went blue so we called an ambulance and she was taken to East Surrey, our local hospital. They decided to put her into an induced coma and a ventilator where she then had a cardiac arrest.”
Eva was slowly weaned off oxygen and is now being fed by a tube through her nose.
Sarah added: “We are very grateful they managed to bring her back around and they sent the team from the Evelina to help take over and bring her to intensive care.
“The first few days were extremely scary we didn't know if she was going to make it but the team at Evelina have been amazing and saved our little girl.
“She's currently still here and got a long road ahead to recovery. If I had known about strep A and the symptoms before I would have taken her straight to the doctors for antibiotics.”
Bacteria called group A streptococcus cause scarlet fever. These bacteria are also the cause of strep throat.
The bacteria sometimes make a toxin which causes a rash.
The symptoms of strep throat include a sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, red and swollen tonsils, petechiae, which are tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth and swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck.
Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting – especially in children.
Symptoms typically do not include a cough, runny nose, hoarseness or conjunctivitis which is more likely from a virus.
Invasive group A streptococcus is when the bacteria gets into the lungs or blood stream.
The UK Health Security Agency says while invasive strep A is uncommon, there has been an increase in cases this year, particularly in children under ten.
The bacteria is passed on by being in close contact with an infected person. It can be passed on through coughs and sneezes into an open wound or sore.
Nine children are reported to have died from complications of strep A in the UK since September.
Brighton and Hove City Council is urging parents to familiarise themselves with the symptoms and if they suspect scarlet fever they should contact 111 or their GP surgery.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here