Terrifying photos show deadly meningitis rash that started as a tiny pin prick and engulfed toddler’s body in HOURS
A MUM has shared terrifying photos of her toddler ravaged by meningitis after an eagle-eyed doctor spotted a tiny purple pin prick.
Sarah Parkyn, 30, from Australia, took her daughter to the doctors thinking she had picked up the flu.
But the medic noticed the first signs of meningococcal septicaemia - a tiny mark on Jazmyn's chest.
Just a few hours later, the three-year-old's body was engulfed by the deadly rash.
Jazmyn suffered a seizure as her temperature soared, and the disease began to attack her vital organs, including her kidneys and brain.
Yet, the brave toddler survived.
She needed all the mottled dead skin removed from her legs, and despite being left with severe scars, the three-year-old is lucky to be alive.
Mum Sarah, 30, said she has released the photos documenting her daughter's ordeal to warn other parents of the signs to watch for in their own kids.
The education support officer, from Renmark in South Australia, said: "The doctor spotted the first purple pin prick on her chest.
"As he began asking if I'd noticed if before, another purple dot appeared.
"We were then rushed to hospital with suspected meningococcal septicaemia and that's when our ordeal began.
The doctor spotted the first purple pin prick on her chest. As he began asking if I’d noticed if before, another purple dot appeared
Sarah Parkyn
"The purple rash was rapidly spreading across her legs, arms and torso, she was in agony.
"She'd had her vaccines against meningococcal so I presumed she was safe.
"I felt helpless and as Jazmyn's organs began to fail, all I could do is wait and hope she pulled through.
"I thought the purple rash would disappear like a bruise but it was actually killing all the flesh underneath.
"When Jazmyn was well enough she needed skin grafts to reduce to scarring.
"Now, 18 months later, she asks 'why don't I have beautiful legs like my sisters.'
"But I just tell her how lucky she is to have even of survived let alone not to have needed any amputations."
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Jazmyn spent five weeks in hospital recovering and needed countless sessions of physiotherapy to help rebuild her muscle strength.
Sarah added: "Since being home Jazmyn has suffered the side effects of meningococcal septicaemia, she struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome and leg pains.
"She has been incredibly lucky though and despite everything, we are so grateful she's still with us."
Jazmyn first started complaining that her legs hurt on the morning before she was diagnosed - something that alerted Sarah to something being wrong.
She added: "The whole family had been battling the flu that week I just assumed she'd caught that.
"But I decided to take her to the doctors as she had severe pain in her legs and was screaming when anything touched them.
"She also had a slight rash on her legs but it didn't look like anything serious, it was similar to a heat rash.
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"While at the doctors she began developing a purple rash and we rushed to hospital.
"I was so shocked when she was first diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia.
"I had no idea there was different types and she'd caught meningococcal B which she wasn't vaccinated against.
"Jazmyn now has check ups every four to six months as we won't know until she's older how the illness has affected her growth.
"She can't attend school full time due to her fatigue but she's come so far since her diagnosis."
Sarah is now sharing Jazmyn's story for the first time in a bid to raise awareness for meningococcal septicaemia.
She said: "If this story helps save another persons life then that's amazing.
"We were lucky the doctor spotted the tiny pin prick when he did as otherwise we could have gone home none the wiser.
"We came so close to losing her but thankfully she survived and we can tell her story as a warning for others.
"Although some of the photos are graphic, I knew we'd want to be able to look back on them someday to show our journey."
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