Toddler With ‘Worst Case’ of Chickenpox ‘Turned Away’ From Doctors
Little Jasper Allen, 2, spent five days in the hospital after his chickenpox sores, which cover every inch of his body, became severely infected.
But his mother, Sarah, 36, claims that less than 48 hours before he was rushed to the hospital, she was told he wasn’t unwell enough to see a doctor.
The mom of two was allegedly refused an appointment at her local doctor by a receptionist — and is now calling on the government of Great Britain to make a vaccination against the disease free for all via the National Healthcare Service.
It is currently only offered where there is a clinical need, if the child might come into contact with people who are particularly vulnerable to chickenpox, such as those having chemotherapy.
Nursery manager Sarah, from St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, said: “I was one of those parents who couldn’t wait for my two [kids] to get chickenpox so then it was out of the way — I didn’t think there was any harm in letting him get it.
“But to see him get it like that and see how it took over his body was just heartbreaking. It was definitely not ‘just chickenpox,’ and I want people to realize this.”
“Everyone’s reactions in the hospital were just complete shock over how severe it was — the doctors all wanted to come and see this worst ever case of chickenpox. There was even talk about using the pictures for a medical journal. One of the pediatric nurses with 40 years’ experience said she had never seen anything like it.”
Sarah, who also has a 5-year-old daughter with 38-year-old postman husband Keith Allen, noticed a few spots on Jasper in July after the tot had first developed scarlet fever the week before.
Sarah said, “When I first called our local doctor I spoke to the receptionist to make an appointment for Jasper, but when I told her it was chickenpox she said to me, ‘Every mother thinks their child has bad chickenpox.’ “
“I knew I wasn’t being a neurotic mother — I have two children and have run a nursery and seen hundreds of kids with chickenpox before, so I knew this wasn’t normal.”
“They should listen to parents more — we know our babies better than anybody in the world.
“As we sat in the waiting room waiting for a bed I could see this redness in his chest spreading all over him before my eyes. We couldn’t hold him for three days because he screamed every time we touched him.”
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Chickenpox is usually a mild illness in children, with most recovering quickly. The vaccine is not routinely offered to children, although the Government’s expert vaccination advisers are reviewing this. The vaccine aims to protect those who are at risk from serious illness. That’s why it is recommended for children with family members who are undergoing medical treatments such as chemotherapy which can affect immunity.”
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