Girl, 2, left scarred by blisters from hand, foot and mouth disease that medics thought was ECZEMA
AT the age of just two, Aubrey Weatherall's tiny body was covered in painful blisters, her skin peeling off like a snake.
Though medics first feared she was suffering an eczema flare up, the toddler was diagnosed with the "worst case" of hand, foot and mouth disease.
The nurse who spotted the common infection, which causes mouth ulcers as well as spots on the hand and feet, claims it was the most severe case she has seen in her 20 years of nursing.
Such was the severity of her condition, her mum Danielle fears she will be left scarred for life.
The mum-of-two said: "It was horrific.
"She had a temperature but no other symptoms. When I put her to bed at 6pm she suddenly started scratching and itching uncontrollably.
"She has eczema and chronic idiopathic urticaria - where her skin can flare up from an allergen - but she has never scratched like this before."
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After giving her daughter some Piriton and Calpol, her conditions failed to improve.
Rather, it got worse, with little Aubrey squirming around in agony, scratching her arms and legs.
Danielle, 29, from Stoke-on-Trent, dialled NHS 111, and was advised to take her daughter to A&E at the Royal Stoke University Hospital on October 19.
There, Aubrey was seen by a nurse and consultant, who told Danielle they thought Aubrey may be suffering a flare up of her chronic idiopathic urticaria.
The medics gave Danielle some antihistamines for Aubrey to take, and advised seeing the GP the next day to get some stronger eczema cream.
"She was crying uncontrollably through the night, the cream didn't do anything, but the next day the GP said it was her eczema and gave her more cream and antihistamines," said Danielle.
"All through the day and night she was screaming and scratching, it was just horrible."
The next morning Aubrey had red spots on the bottom of her feet, on her hands and blisters all around her mouth.
All through the day and night she was screaming and scratching, it was just horrible
Danielle Weatherall, Aubrey's mum
Her mum recalled: "She had sores all over her body and her skin was just peeling off like a snake.
"When I got her dressed to rush her to hospital her skin just flaked off as she put her clothes on.
"When the nurse saw her she said straight away: 'That's the worst case of hand, foot and mouth disease I've seen in 20 years'."
Aubrey was given antibiotics for seven days, to clear the infection.
But, she was left with scars all over her body.
Danielle, who is also mum to Tyler, nine, said: "It's clearing up now, but I'm really worried she's going to be left with permanent scarring."
WHAT IS HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE?
The common infection causes mouth ulcers and spots on the hands and feet.
Though children aged ten and under are more likely to catch the disease but it can affect older children and adults as well.
The infection is not related to foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs.
Symptoms usually develop between three and five days after being exposed to the infection.
They include:
- high temperature
- general sense of feeling unwell
- loss of appetite
- coughing
- stomach pain
- sore throat and mouth
There is no cure for hand, foot and mouth disease, and sufferers just have to wait the infection out.
Danielle, who is married to Aubrey's dad Peter, said she fears the delay in diagnosing her daughter meant her condition got worse.
"I can understand how when a patient is presented who has certain conditions, it can mask the real problem," she said.
"But, they should also take account of those who really know the patient.
"Peter and Tyler both have eczema and I knew this wasn't that - it was much worse.
"She's never been like that before and I was telling the doctor but he seemed so sure I took his advice."
There is no cure for hand, foot and mouth disease - rather patients just have to let the infection run its course.
To ease symptoms, people can drink plenty of fluids, take over-the-counter painkillers and gargle with warm water to relieve the discomfort of mouth ulcers.
A spokesman for University Hospitals of North Midlands said they were unable to comment on the case.