Mother’s warning to others after baby daughter suffered horrific symptoms after a spider bite
- Minnie Harris has told parents to ‘trust your gut’ after seeing a rash on her child
- Doctors said her daughter was bitten by a spider and had a cellulitis infection
- While her baby survived the infection, Minnie said it could’ve been ‘much worse’
A mother-of-two has warned parents to ‘trust your gut’ after her baby suffered a horrific reaction to a spider bite.
Minnie Harris decided to call 111 after noticing a small red rash on her daughter, Emily’s, knee.
After visiting the walk-in centre, doctors said Emily had a Cellulitis Infection and sent her home with antibiotics and a drawing around her rash with the instructions to come back if it spreads any further.
The 19-year-old mother rushed to A&E that evening after the rash persisted, she wrote in a TikTok video she wrote: ‘When we got to A&E they put us straight in a room. Blisters had started to come up all over the rash.
A 19-year-old mother has issued a warning to parents, telling them to always get help if they think their child is at risk. ‘It’s better to be safe than sorry,’ she said
Replying to @Mairead Its scary how many kids have had this too cause I had never heard of this till it happened to my daughter!! #fyp #update #cellulitusinfection #spiderbite #cellulitusawereness #motherknowsbest #teenmum #9monthold #minnieharris
She said her daughter Emily had been bitten by a spider and had a bad reaction, luckily she survived but the mum said it could’ve been ‘much worse’
‘She had a temperature of 40 and her hands and feet were freezing.’
Minnie said her daughter was given an IV drip, and gradually started to get better – though huge blisters began to form on her leg.
While Emily survived the infection, Minnie said the incident could have been ‘much worse’ and told her 32,500 followers to always respond to their instincts.
In her video, captioned ‘Poorly Baby’ she wrote: ‘I am sharing this to raise awareness. Never let anyone tell you to ‘just wait’, ‘you’re being dramatic’, ‘she will be fine’.
‘If you are concerned about anything even if it feels small, go with your gut! This infection came out of nowhere and spread up her whole leg in a matter of hours.
‘I can’t even begin to imagine what would have happened if I had just put her to bed as normal and waited it out. If you feel like something is wrong with your child, GET HELP! It’s better to be safe than sorry.
In an updated video, Minnie said that ‘spider bite’ was written on her daughter’s discharge papers which doctors explained had led to the cellulitis infection – though the type of spider is unknown.
Minnie Harris (pictured) decided to call 111 after noticing a small red rash on her daughter’s knee
Minnie said her daughter was given an IV drip after being diagnosed with a cellulitis infection, after being – though she felt much better giant blisters began to form
According to the Verywell Health website spider and bug bites can puncture the skin leaving it ‘vulnerable’ to bacteria and other pathogens.
‘Bugs don’t carry these bacteria, but once a bug punctures your skin with a bite, the bacteria can enter your body if you’re exposed to them,’ it reads.
Since it was posted, the video has gained 21.8 million likes and has thousands of comments from parents praising Minnie’s swift action and sending their thoughts for Emily.
‘Celulitis is no joke at any age. Very dangerous. I’m glad you advocated and were listened to. Hope she heals quickly,’ one person wrote.
Another added: ‘I’m not a parent yet but this phrase ‘It’s better to be safe than sorry’ is so underrated. Always trust your gut.’
One person, who said they have had cellulitis twice before commented: ‘It’s so dangerous and needs more awareness I’m glad she’s doing better.’
What is cellulitis infection? And what signs should I look out for?
Cellulitis is an infection that affects the skin and the tissue underneath.
The bacteria can enter the skin through an opening, such as cut, scrape, burn, or surgical incision, or a bug bite or sting.
Cellulitis can trigger sepsis in some people. Sepsis is the body’s often deadly response to infection or injury. Sepsis kills and disables millions and requires early suspicion and treatment for survival.
Where does cellulitis occur?
The infection is most common on the lower legs, but it can happen anywhere on the body.
Symptoms of cellulitis:
– Redness around the area where the bacteria entered the skin
– Tenderness, soreness of the affected area
– Swelling
– Blisters
– Fever
Risk factors for cellulitis:
– People who have an impaired immune system are more vulnerable to contracting infections.
– Chronic illnesses such as diabetes can increase your risk of developing infections.
– Skin conditions or disorders can cause breaks in the skin where the bacteria can enter.
– People who are obese have a higher risk of having cellulitis and of getting it again.
– If you’ve had cellulitis before, you do have a higher risk of getting it again.
Treatment:
If you suspect you have cellulitis, see your doctor or nurse practitioner. If you are given antibiotics, it is vital that you take them as prescribed, right to the end of the prescription.
Source: Sepsis Alliance
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