A MUM is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against measles after her son suffered terrifying seizures with the virus.
Sophie Dale, 27, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, was “nervous” to vaccinate son Levi because of posts on TikTok and Facebook wrongly linking the MMR jab to autism.
SWNSSophie Dale is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against measles after her son Levi (pictured together) suffered terrifying seizures with the virus[/caption]
SWNSHe started shaking violently at home and had to spend six days in hospital fighting for his life[/caption]
She was in “two minds” but booked him in for his first dose — but the 11-month-old caught measles just days before his appointment in November 2018.
He started shaking violently at home and had to spend six days in hospital fighting for his life after it caused a severe case of sepsis.
Recalling the traumatic time, Sophie said: “I was stood in Sainsbury’s and my mum called me screaming that he was seizing. I rushed home and his temperature was crazy.
“When we arrived at the hospital a team of what looked like 20 people took him away. It was so scary — I remember thinking ‘this is what you see on 24 Hours in A&E’.
“I couldn’t watch but I could hear his screams.”
Measles saw an “alarming” 4,300 per cent rise in Europe last year, according to the World Health Organization.
Some 42,200 cases were reported in 2023, up from 941 in 2022, with nine children tragically dying.
UK figures show there have been 216 confirmed cases and 103 probable cases in the West Midlands since October last year.
When can children get vaccinated?
Health officials are urging parents to ensure their children are up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Kids are offered their first dose aged one and their second at three years at four months, just before they start school.
However, if they, or any one else, has missed any jabs, they can catch up at any time through their GP surgery.
The virus can lead to lifelong disabilities and even death, particularly if your child is unvaccinated.
It can affect the lungs and brain and cause pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.
Measles had basically destroyed his immune system, and he developed sepsis while fighting it
Sophie Dale
Levi had a high temperature and a rash from the measles before he was hospitalised.
Sophie got a phone call to say he had taken a turn and would need to go to hospital while she was shopping for cake ingredients the day before his first birthday party.
She said: “Seeing him ill, the hardest part was he had always been such a happy little boy.
“He couldn’t understand why his mum was allowing them to prod and poke him — even though they were saving his life I just wanted to ask them to stop hurting him.”
He was allowed to go home after six days in Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury but had a year of check-ups to test if sepsis had damaged his hearing or vision.
Sophie said: “I didn’t realise how serious it was at the time.
“But I was told the measles had basically destroyed his immune system, and he developed sepsis while fighting it.
“By the grace of God he is now a-ok but sometimes I look back at the hospital pictures and I can’t believe it.”
I get the fear around vaccinations but this is what happened to my son
Sophie Dale
While she found making the decision to vaccinate her children a hard one, she said she knew how important it was.
She now finds it “frustrating” to see people not vaccinating their babies, because she has seen first-hand how dangerous the conditions can be.
Sophie said: “There’s a lot of misinformation out there so I know how hard it is.
“But after seeing Levi in that way, I could never have forgiven myself if that had been because of a decision I had made.”
Sophie now advocates for the vaccine, having seen the devastating impacts of measles on her son.
Sophie said: “Even after what happened to Levi, with my second child, I was still nervous to get her vaccinations done because of the scaremongering.
“But I knew I had to do it. I get the fear around vaccinations but this is what happened to my son.
“If you’re nervous and scared about vaccinating, it’s so easy just to say you won’t do it.
“But do your research and make an educated decision — ask the doctors questions and talk it through with people.”
SWNSLevi had a high temperature and a rash from the measles before he was hospitalised[/caption]
Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later
The main symptoms of measles
MEASLES is highly contagious and can cause serious problems in some people.
The infection usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.
The first signs include:
A high temperature
A runny or blocked nose
Sneezing
A cough
Red, sore, watery eyes
Small white spots may then appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips a few days later.
A rash tends to come next. This usually starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
The spots are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches. They are not normally itchy.
The rash looks brown or red or white skin. It may be harder to see on darker skin.
Complications are rare, but measles can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, seizures, and sometimes death.
Source: NHS