A healthy 9-year-old boy from California passed away only a week after having a common cold.
Tristan Ang, a black belter in Taekwondo, was punching, chopping and kicking just last month. His family is now warning others that the signs of a cold caused by adenovirus are so subtle that even nurses did not realize how sick the boy was.
The virus is life-threatening to kids with a compromised or weak immune system. However, Tristan had been healthy, and his family warns other parents ‘it could happen to any kid.’
Tristan was a healthy boy and had just competed in national Taekwondo competition. But after a week, he became weak and unusually tired. His lethargy then turned to a headache, fever, and nausea.
Mark and Belle, both nurses, thought rest would be enough for their child. They gave him Motrin and Tylenol to manage his symptoms and fever.
But when his symptoms didn’t improve, they took him to a hospital where they were told he was just dehydrated. However, rest and water didn’t help.
Tristan became so confused and disoriented that he couldn’t remember his own name.
Mark and Belle rushed him to the hospital again and Tristan ended up in the intensive care unit. His brain was swelling and doctors said that he was having rare complications from a common cause of the cold – adenovirus.
Adenovirus usually causes a fever, coughing, congestion, and a sore throat. It is also responsible for some cases of ear infections and pinkeye.
“He didn’t even have signs of a cold,” Mark said. The 9-year-old deteriorated before their eyes and his heart stopped four times.
“After the fourth go, that’s when the doctor told Belle and I that he’s dying,” Mark said to NBC Bay Area. “As a nurse, I know. But as a dad, I don’t want to believe it.”
Three hours later, their child was gone. “He was exceptional…It’s very unexpected,” heartbroken Belle expressed. “(He was) very healthy, and then all of a sudden, gone.
“Even the healthiest kid could die or get the virus fast.”
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