A five-year-old, who loved playing in the hot tub, contracted a life-threatening infection in her ear that spread to her brain.
26-year-old Jemma Hamilton, from Motherwell, told her daughter Ameilia was five at the time she contracted a life-threatening infection in her ear after playing in the family hot tub.
The infection then spread to her brain. She was taken to Wishaw where Ameilia was diagnosed with three abscesses in her brain after the CT scan results.
Jemma said: “Caused by a bacterial infection which probably entered her brain through the ear. She needed immediate treatment, but Wishaw was not equipped for this kind of condition.”
She was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow where the parents were told that it was a life-threatening infection and Ameilia needed to start IV antibiotics straight away.
The parents thought their daughter would be kept for a week or two but the neurosurgeon told them that she would be kept for at least 8 weeks.
Jemma said: “We were told she more than likely caught a severe ear infection from the hot tub as the warm temperatures are breeding grounds for bacteria.”
Ameilia ended up spending months in the hospital while fighting the life-threatening infection.
She has now made a full recovery and Jemma recently shared her story on Facebook to warn people about the dangers of the hot tubs.
Jemma said it was the most ‘frightening’ time of her life and her daughter was just 5 when she fought the life-threatening infection for months.
She urged parents to be extra careful with their hot tubs/pools and not let their children go inside the tub.
Jemma said: “Please, please be extra careful when treating your hot tubs/pools and make sure you do this as regularly as possible. Try to keep the kiddies out or at least from going underwater.”
“Also make sure to be vigilant when it comes to ear infections, they can be serious too!”
She is grateful Ameilia didn’t need brain surgery and fought like a warrior.
Jemma is now raising funds for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity where Ameilia was treated and has already raised hundreds of pounds.
[rumble video_id=vulov domain_id=u7nb2]