Mosquitoes are out in full force every summer, and while most of their bites are irritating but mostly harmless, some carry horrible diseases.
While LoriAnne Surrett’s son Noah said he had a headache during their drive to his grandparents’ for a visit, she didn’t think much of it.
Noah, 6, had never been one to let being ill bother him too much, so she provided him with some pain meds and he seemed to get better. Still, the headache lingered.
Noah stayed overnight at his grandparents’, and the next day he woke up with the same headache and much worse symptoms.
Surrett received a call then from her mother-in-law, who said that Noah was unresponsive and acting strangely. She then told Surrett to come over immediately and hung up to call 911.
Terrified, Surrett rushed to her in-laws’ home just as her son was being placed into an ambulance by EMS staff.
She was horrified to see his eyes rolling back, his lips blue, and his body limp from a seizure.
He looked so ill she thought he was gone. EMS works found that he was running a 102-degree fever, and while in the ambulance, experienced two more seizures.
Once he arrived at the hospital, doctors quickly ran more tests and it wasn’t long before they discovered the source of the sickness – one single mosquito bite.
Noah had likely been bitten while playing outdoors the week before, and the insect had transmitted an extremely dangerous diseases to Noah known as La Crosse encephalitis.
Encephalitis is known as brain swelling and can be potentially fatal. Its La Crosse variety can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, seizures, permanent brain damage and comas.
La Crosse encephalitis is not a very well known virus but happens more than one may expect for a virus of this rarity, especially in certain parts of the US.
Over 70 cases are reported annually and they mainly affect those aged 16 and under. Surrett and Noah live in one of the higher-risk areas for the disease, but Surrett had never heard of it before this.
Noah stayed in the hospital for about a week, spending a good portion of that time in the ICU. He experienced more pain, fevers, and seizures, often crying out in pain and acting zombie-like, according to Surrett.
His road to recovery was not an easy one, and Surrett often worried that he would not make it.
Then, suddenly, one Thursday at 3 o’clock, he sat up in bed and began to talk to his mother like he always had. In just minutes, he’d gone from looking to be in critical condition to chatting with Surrett, just like that.
He was discharged soon after and he is now at home, getting additional rest and recovering.
Although Noah is in the clear now, Surrett still has nightmares about what happened. She wants to warn parents to use bug spray with their children.
Naturally, she knows that bug spray is not foolproof, but it does greatly reduce the risk of contracting such a virus. To prevent more mosquitoes, ensure there is no stagnant water in your yard or around your home, and wear long sleeves.
Noah’s family is now attempting to raise money to pay for his medical bills. If you’d like to help, you can donate to their GoFundMe here.
SEE ALSO:
If The Mosquitoes Always Go Straight For You, Here’s What You Need To Know
