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Show ? Toddler survives bout with Hib -it ! 'I '. 1 -A ' - .. L. ; . - i ; .t p 'MtM0C5?s ' - 'Utit0k mvt&fa&toM!a a MemMljJ! MM & $ it's their life. However, she was familiar with the controversy over the pertussis vaccine. According to the Health Depart-' ment, the Hib is one of the safest vaccines on the market, with no current history of side effects. The Hib vaccine is recommended for 2-5 year olds, and is available through doctors' offices and local health clinics. "The Hib vaccine is so new, people need to be made more aware of it," said Mrs. Persson. "I'd hate to see another child go through what Michael did..." As in Michael's case, the Hib virus is associated with epiglottitis as well as blood poisoning, arthritis, bone infection, pneumonia and inflammation of the heart lining and skin or connective tissue. Hib symptoms vary from fever and inability or difficulty breathing, to intensive, croup-like symptoms and severe lethargy Although the actual symptoms may not appear alarming at first, according to Dr. Nuttall, Michael's pediatrician, "The Hib virus is critical and life-threatening." N "If I had put my baby to bed, I would have never heard him. It really scares me; he would have . died!" Lee Persson of Pleasant ' Grove knows first hand the seriousness of the Hib virus. Hib, an abbreviation for haemophilus influenza type B, is a serious childhood illness affecting 20-30,000 children yearly in the U.S. It also affected 19-month-old Michael Persson. Wednesday, Michael awoke from a late nap fussy and irritable. By 8 p.m. his temperature was elevated ibut responding well to Tylenol and clear liquids. When his dad went to bed at 10 p.m., Michael was still up and I playing and feeling much better. His mother cuddled her active son on the couch, hoping that the TV would settle him down for the night. The changes in Michael's condition con-dition weren't dramatic. In fact, no ; one but the child's mother would have noticed the slight change in H the sound of his breathing, and the almost imperceptible difference in 1 the way he held his mouth. Michael was offered a sip of pop. - When it dribbled out the side of his mouth, his frightened mother S hurried to bundle him up. Instinctively In-stinctively she knew to get Michael to the hospital. His mother's quick out! action saved his life. Michael and his parents arrived at American Fork Hospital just before 11 p.m. Dr. Batchler, on call in the E.R., listened to Michael's dry-mouthed breathing and ordered x-rays. The x-rays revealed epiglottitis. The structure located near the base of Michael's tongue was swelling and obstructing his airway. If untreated un-treated and allowed to close, Michael would suffocate and die. Dr. Timpson, head anesthesiologist, Dr. Stevens, tracheotomy specialist, and Dr. Nuttall, pediatrician, were immediately im-mediately summoned for surgery. An emergency table was assembled in case the baby's throat should close before the specialists arrived. Within minutes the surgery team had gathered and explained the gravity of the situation to the concerned parents. "I was horrified," shuddered Mrs: Persson. "That was MY baby!" Even at the operating room doors, Michael's breathing was more labored, but not enough to be noisy. In a matter of minutes the O.R. team was ready to intubate. Micahel's throat had almost closed completely during the brief interval. in-terval. So severe was the swelling that the tiny tube selected to keep the airway open had to be the size generally used on a newborn. Shortly after midnight, the life-saving life-saving procedure was completed. The stand-by tracheotomy proved unnecessary. Michael spent three days heavily sedated in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit while IV antibiotics battled the invasive Hib virus. Thanks to quick action, proper diagnosis and surgical intervention, the Perssons were able to bring their baby home three days later. Michael's ordeal was over, but its affects would haunt his mother for weeks to come, prompting Mrs. Persson to publicly advocate the Hib vaccine. "Seeing what my baby went through, it's not worth taking the chance when the Hib vaccine is so readily available to the public." Hib is known as the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under age five. Bacterial meningitis has been identified as the number one cause of mental retardation in children. Five to ten percent of the children contracting Hib meningitis will die. Many of the survivors will suffer permanent nerve deafness, nervous system damage and seizures. Admittedly, Mrs. Persson hadn't heard much about the Hib virus until it had suddenly intruded into Lee Persson (Mrs. Neil) plays with son, now recovered from virus. "Paying $9-$l0 for a simple shot is a lot cheaper than spending $5300 for hospital ICU care in a life-. threatening situation," said Mrs. Persson. "I'm so thankful the Hib vaccine is there - I'm a believer!" |