Four-year-old fighting for her life after trying on new shoes
A four-year-old girl from Wales in the UK is suffering from a life-threatening condition after contracting deadly sepsis from trying on new shoes.
A day after trying on different sized shoes on bare feet, Sienna Rasul fell seriously ill. She was later diagnosed with sepsis – a life-threatening disease that can develop due to an infection.
As reported by The Sun, doctors believe the infection was present on the shoes that she tried on, and that there is a possibility that Sienna had a cut or graze on her foot that allowed the bacteria to enter her body.
As a result, Sienna spent five days in hospital with a drip attached to her at all times. Her mother, Jodie Thomas, was by her side during the ordeal.
“I was really shocked when the doctors said it was from trying on new shoes,” she said.
“I’ve been worried sick. They’ve had to drain all the poison from her leg.
“Normally she would have socks on but it’s the summertime, so she was wearing sandals.
“The shoes she liked had been tried on by other little girls and that’s how Sienna picked up the infection.”
Jodie knew something was wrong with her daughter when Sienna was constantly crying in pain after the shopping trip.
When doctors noticed the infection, they used a pen to outline exactly where it had spread.
“By the next day it had spread up her leg and her temperature was raging,” said Jodie.
“I drove her straight to the hospital. She was shaking and twitching – it was horrible to see my little girl like that.
“They said it was sepsis and thought they would have to operate.
“But the doctors have managed to drain all the pus from her leg and say the antibiotic drip will do the job.”
Sienna has been released from the children’s ward at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, but is still being closely monitored.
After going through the horrifying ordeal, Jodie is now reminding parents of the importance of children wearing socks when trying on shoes.
“I knew you risk getting things like athlete’s foot from trying on shoes, but blood poisoning is far more serious,” she said.
“You don’t know whose feet have been in the shoes before you.
“Sienna has been really ill. The infection was moving up her leg and spreading to the rest of her body.
“I’m so glad I got her to the hospital quickly."
When shopping for new children's shoes, Jodie advised mums and dads "to take a spare pair of socks with them".
Chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust Dr Ron Daniels said that: “This frightening case shows us that sepsis strikes indiscriminately and can affect anyone at any time.
“Whenever there are signs of infection, it’s crucial that members of the public seek medical attention urgently and just ask: ‘Could it be sepsis?’” he added.
“Better awareness could save thousands of lives every year.”