A 12-year-old girl from Gateshead spent three weeks in hospital, part of it in an induced coma, after what was thought to be a simple 'school bug' escalated into a life-threatening battle with a severe strain of influenza.
From Headache to Hospital Nightmare
Last month, Jessica Williamson came home from school complaining of a bad headache and began vomiting. Her mother, Ashleigh Moore, 34, and initial medical assessments believed she had caught a common seasonal virus circulating among children.
However, Jessica's condition deteriorated rapidly. She was eventually rushed by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, where she was diagnosed with Influenza A. The virus triggered devastating complications, developing into sepsis and necrotising pneumonia.
A Mother's Agony and a Vital Warning
"It was heartbreaking to see her like that in an induced coma," Ashleigh said. "I felt like I was looking into someone else's life... There were several moments where we didn't think she would ever leave the hospital and see Christmas."
Jessica's plight underscores a stark warning from health officials as new NHS figures reveal a worrying surge in cases. Recorded flu patient numbers spiked by 55% in a week in early December, jumping from 1,717 to 2,660, driven by a so-called 'super flu' strain.
Ashleigh, who admits she once thought of flu as 'just' an illness, is now a passionate advocate for vaccination. "I'm now urging people to get their flu vaccines," she stated. "You also need to trust your gut and get a second opinion. It is scary to think that if we had just gone to bed that night, where would we have been?"
Hospital Response and Public Health Plea
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, wished Jessica a full recovery and said it would welcome a meeting with the family to discuss her case in detail.
Sean Fenwick, Chief Executive of the Trust, emphasised the unpredictable nature of flu in children. "Flu in children can develop quickly from a stable situation to one which is very serious," he said. He strongly encouraged parents to seek a review if a child's condition worsens and urged all eligible children and young people to get the flu vaccine.
After a harrowing three-week stay during which Jessica became "delirious", she has now overcome the infection. Her mother's message, echoed by the NHS, is clear: the flu can be severe, and vaccination is a critical line of defence.
