A four-year-old girl suffering from swine flu underwent a miracle cure after doctors treated her with a drug normally only used on adults.
Jessie Flewker, from Deal, was given the anti-flu drug Relenza by doctors in a desperate attempt to save her life.
Doctors at the Evelina Children's Hospital, which is attached to St Thomas' Hospital in London took the decision to make Jessie is the youngest patient in the country to be treated with the drug.
She is now recovered and even back at school.
The little girl was near to death after developing a potentially deadly brain swelling but just 12 hours after been treated with the medication she woke up from a three-day coma.
Her grandfather, the Rev David Flewker said: "It was a very traumatic time for the family – but it all ended happily and Jessie is now back at school.
"The decision the doctors took was a bold and courageous one. Usually the drug is just given to adults to inhale yet Jessie was given it intravenously.
"To administer it the doctors took a great chance – but it was an inspired one."
Her grandmother Carol said: "They are calling her a walking miracle. She was on the brink of death when the doctors decided to give her the drug.
"We owe her life to the doctors and nurses at the hospital. They were fantastic."
Jessie, of Deal, Kent, became ill on October 27, when she had a fit while out shopping with her grandmother.
She was taken to hospital in Margate, then transferred to the Evelina Children's Hospital and put in a drug-induced coma while tests were carried out.
Despite not having a high temperature - a classic swine flu symptom - she was diagnosed with the virus.
At Evelina Children's Hospital her condition worsened and scans showed she was suffering from an inflammation of the brain called acute necrotizing encephalitis, which had not previously been seen in a swine flu victim.
Doctors used Relenza, as well as treatment to boost her immune system, and she started to show signs of recovery the next morning.
Dr Marilyn McDougall, consultant intensive care paediatrician, said: "We were very worried about Jessie because a significant number of children do not recover from it. This was very severe and extensive.
"We then changed her treatment to include Relenza given intravenously. We saw a very dramatic response."
The Rev Flewker added: "I am happy to talk about this for two reasons – first to say thank you to the medical staff who saved Jessie.
"Secondly as a warning to people that swine flu is serious. At first I thought it was another panic like bird flu but I now realise how serious it is."
POSTED: 22/11/2009 13:00:00
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