Mum speaks out after son, 7, left in ICU by deadly illness linked to Covid
A young boy was left covered in blisters and rushed to intensive care after being struck down by a disease that has been linked to Covid-19 in children.
Logan Walsh and his mum Jessica had tested positive for Covid-19 in November – although the seven-year-old lad didn’t display any symptoms of the deadly virus.
However, six weeks after his diagnosis, 43-year-old mum Jessica called emergency services after he began vomiting and suffering from a fever.
Logan was found to be suffering from Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PIMS-TS) – which has been reported to be brought on by the Covid-19 virus in some children.
According to the Royal College of Child and Pediatric Health, PIMS-TS is "very rare and most children with the condition will not be seriously affected, in a very few cases it can be serious and even life-threatening".
It is also reported that the condition can cause organ failure, blisters skin, and heart murmurs.
Recounting the distressing diagnosis and watching her son rushed to ICU, Jessica has urged parents to be vigilant as she fears illnesses in children relating to Covid have been too easily dismissed by many.
She explained to Yorkshire Live: "They go on all the time about how this pandemic only affects the elderly and often say it doesn't seem to affect children.
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"Paramedics arrived, checking the rash wasn't meningitis, checking the usual observations, but (they) all came back normal.
"They were concerned he hadn't had a wee in over 12 hours, and told us if he hadn't gone by the evening, to take him to A&E."
Logan was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary where doctors were baffled by his condition as his rash continued to spread and swelling remained.
Jessica continued: "It wasn't until a specialist came did we hear about PIMS-TS.
"He had been complaining of hurting and of having a headache and with the rash, we were terrified.
"The specialist said he had treated lots of kids with this illness over the course of the pandemic, and Logan began treatment for the PIMS-TS straight away.
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"It was a form of steroid treatment, and we had to stay in for seven days.
"The doctors told me they were seeing children and teenagers who had already had Covid-19, showing no symptoms when they had it and then coming in later, just like Logan.
"The syndrome is known to attack organs, with the heart being the main one."
The lad was moved to ICU when he developed a heart murmur and his body had begun swelling as it tried to heal and his blood thinned.
Jessica recounts: "As his joints and muscles had swollen, Logan now requires physio to help with rehabilitation, and to walk again.
"Thankfully, the initial treatment eventually got his condition under control.
"When this first began happening, not all doctors were able to recognise it, and the link in the condition to Covid-19 is only just starting to be taken seriously.
"Thankfully Logan is recovering slowly, and made it home on Christmas Day.
"But he is on a mountain of drugs, and has many appointment for scans, dietitians, cardio to name just a few.
"It will take a long time to fully recover – everyone needs to be taking this pandemic seriously and have awareness of the conditions it can lead to."
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