A 4-year-old Iowa girls tragic bout with the flu should remind everyone why getting vaccinated is so important. Her family says that the unvaccinated girls infection led to serious neurological complications that have left her blind, perhaps permanently.
According to CNN, Jade DeLucia became sick with the flu right before Christmas. Though DeLucia appeared to have little more than a mild fever at first, her parents found her unresponsive one morning, prompting a trip to a local hospital.
Once there, she experienced a seizure, which necessitated an emergency airlift to another hospital 80 miles away in Iowa City. Doctors there eventually confirmed that the flu had made its way to the girls brain, causing a rare but well-known complication of flu called encephalopathy. DeLucia would spend over a week in the intensive care unit, fully in a coma.
Thankfully, during the first week of January, DeLucia woke up and steadily regained her ability to eat and talk. But her vision didnt return, despite her eyes being perfectly fine. The infection had damaged the areas of her brain that helped her see, and its unclear whether she ever will see again. She may also develop other lingering problems, such as learning or cognitive difficulties, her neurologist told CNN.
It affected the part of her brain that perceives sight, and we dont know if shes going to get her vision back, Theresa Czech, a neurologist who treated DeLucia at the University of Iowa Stead Family Childrens Hospital, told CNN. In about three to six months from now well know. Whatever recovery she has at six months, thats likely all shes going to get.
According to DeLucias family, she had gotten vaccinated for the flu last March. But they mistakenly believed that the vaccine would protect her for an entire year. In reality, an annual flu shot only provides some protection against the strains of flu encountered during the upcoming, current, or most recent winter season.
The vaccine doesnt completely eliminate the risk of contracting the fluon average, its about 40 to 60 percent effective at preventing the flu, largely depending on whether scientists havedone a good job at predicting the strains in circulation that season. But even when it doesnt fully work, it still greatly reduces the odds of someone developing the sort of serious, life-threatening complications that DeLucia encountered.
The family hopes that their story can encourage more people to get vaccinated.
If I can stop one child from getting sick, thats what I want to do, Amanda Phillips, Jade DeLucias mother, told CNN. Its terrible to see your child suffer like this.
While this current U.S. flu season is thought to be a relatively mild one, it still may be responsible for up to 12,000 deaths, 150,000 hospitalizations, and over 6 million doctors visits, as of the first week of January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And its still not too late to get your flu shot or spray.
See the original post here:
A 4-Year-Old Girl's Sudden Blindness Is a Tragic Reminder of Why Everyone Should Get the Flu Shot - Gizmodo
- 001 Burn Victim Eye Sight Restored with Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2010]
- 002 Blindness Cured? - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- 003 Blindness Study Opens the Door for Further Stem Cell Trials [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2012]
- 004 Stem Cell Treatment Helps on Blindness [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- 005 Dame Judi Dench Battling Blindness [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2012]
- 006 Stem cell repair kit for glaucoma could mean a treatment for the most common cause of blindness [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2012]
- 007 Dublin team creates collagen and stem cell barrier against blindness [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2012]
- 008 Irish research blindness breakthrough [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2012]
- 009 Stem Cell Operation Attempts To Heal Corneal Blindness [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2012]
- 010 Some Heavy Kids at Risk of Blindness [Last Updated On: May 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: May 25th, 2012]
- 011 Blindness breakthrough as scientists turn stem cells into the tissue that allows humans to see [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2012]
- 012 A Struggling Artist's Fall-Back Career: Curing Blindness [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2012]
- 013 From Cloning 'Dolly the Sheep' to Curing Blindness, Scotland is on the Forefront of Life Science Discoveries [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2012]
- 014 UW discovery could be cure for some blindness [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2012]
- 015 Stem-cell research: $37 million [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- 016 Stem cells improve visual function in blind mice [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- 017 Blind Mice Get Experimental Stem Cell Treatment For Blindness [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- 018 25. Medical Biotechnology: Part Ib. Stem Cells-Therapy and Medical Research NQ - Video [Last Updated On: November 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 6th, 2012]
- 019 Perceptions of Promise art show opens at UAlberta - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2012]
- 020 ABC NEWS: Stem Cells Cure Blindness - Video [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2012]
- 021 Stem Cell Treatment Restores Man's Vision - Video [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2012]
- 022 Stem Cell Treatment Cures Blindness - Video [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2013]
- 023 Trial to cure age related blindness to begin in London - Video [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2013] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2013]
- 024 Can Stem Cells Cure Blindness? - Video [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2013] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2013]
- 025 Stem-cell help for blindness - Video [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2014]
- 026 Stem-cell treatment for blindness - Video [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2014]
- 027 Stem Cells, Blindness And Why The Media Loves Miracle Cures - Video [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2014]
- 028 Can Stem Cell Injections Cure Blindness? - Video [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2014]
- 029 P-SPAN #411: "Treating Blindness with Stem Cells" - Video [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2015]
- 030 Color blindness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 031 Blindness (Blindness, #1) by Jos Saramago Reviews ... [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 032 Vision Impairment and Blindness: MedlinePlus [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 033 Blindness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2015]
- 034 Blindness (Harvest Book): Jose Saramago: Amazon.com: Books [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2015]
- 035 Banner Blindness: Old and New Findings, 10-year research ... [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2015]
- 036 Blindness - KidsHealth [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2015]
- 037 Blindness (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2015]
- 038 Blindness: Get Facts About Causes of Vision Loss [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2015]
- 039 How are color blindness see the rainbow? - For... [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2015]
- 040 Prosopagnosia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2015]
- 041 The Four Frames of Color-Blindness Laura Bestler [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2015]
- 042 Genre Blindness - TV Tropes [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2015]
- 043 Glaucoma Service Foundation to Prevent Blindness [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2015]
- 044 Onchocerciasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2015]
- 045 Blindness (2008) - Rotten Tomatoes [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2015]
- 046 Do you suffer from face blindness? Seven signs and ... [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2015]
- 047 Inattentional blindness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2015]
- 048 Blindness in Dogs - WebMD [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2015]
- 049 blindness | medical condition | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2015]
- 050 Blindness | ASPCA [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2015]
- 051 Blindness | DO-IT - University of Washington [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2015]
- 052 Blindness - RightDiagnosis.com [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2015]
- 053 Blindness Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes ... [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2015]
- 054 Blindness: Types, Causes & Symptoms - Healthline [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2015]
- 055 Social-Security-Disability-Forum: Blindness and Vision ... [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2015]
- 056 Vischeck: About Vischeck [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2015]
- 057 Visual impairment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2015]
- 058 WHO | Micronutrient deficiencies [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2015]
- 059 Blindness (2008) - Plot Summary - IMDb [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 060 Prevalence Color Blindness [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 061 318. On His Blindness. John Milton. The Oxford Book of ... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 062 Free Oedipus the King Blindness Essays and Papers [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 063 Leading Causes of Blindness [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 064 Color Blindness Tests and Facts - Archimedes Laboratory [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 065 Is Acupuncture a Beneficial Treatment for Retinitis ... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 066 Blindness and vision loss - NHS Choices [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 067 Blindness (novel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 068 Discover - Blindness and Vision Loss Research [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 069 Health Article - What causes blindness? 23 possible ... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 070 Blindness - Kids Health: [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 071 Margaret Heffernan: The dangers of "willful blindness ... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 072 Blindness (2008) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 073 Change blindness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 074 Blindness - Medical Disability Guidelines [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 075 inattentional blindness (aka inattention blindness)- The ... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 076 Eye on the Cure - Blog of the Foundation Fighting Blindness [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 077 Blindness Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - MedicineNet [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 078 BLINDNESS by Jose Saramago - Webster University [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 079 Inattentional blindness - Scholarpedia [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- 080 Prevention of Blindness and Visual Impairment - WHO [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]