Steyning girl, 6, placed on ventilator after rare reaction to Covid-19

A six-year-old girl ended up on a ventilator in hospital after suffering a rare reaction to Covid-19.
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And now her mum wants to warn other parents to be aware of the illness - known as PMS-TS or paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome.
Little Millie Denver first became unwell with a temperature at her home in Steyning in mid December but mum Elizabeth thought at first she had chicken pox because a number of pypils at Millie’s school - Steyning Primary - had the infection.
But over the next few days Millie became worse and was covered “from chest to feet” in a rash. After calling 999 on the advice of her doctor, Elizabeth was told by the ambulance service to take her straight to A&E. 
“On the way there she became really lethargic,” said Elizabeth. “When we got to Worthing Hospital she couldn’t walk. I had to carry her. She was in so much pain. 
“She had pain in her bones, tummy ache and her heart rate was really high. She looked so poorly.”
Millie was placed on a ventilator and blue-lighted from Worthing to Southampton General Hospital where she remained on a ventilator in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
“It was very scary,” said Elizabeth. “I was on my own with her her in Southampton because my husband had to go home to look after our other two children.
“I don’t think I realised how serious it was until a doctor said she was “really, really poorly. They said the best thing was to keep her on the ventilator to give her organs a rest. The doctors said it was a kind of ‘toxic shock’.”
Meanwhile Elizabeth’s husband Glen and Millie’s sisters Felicity,12, and nine-year-old Elsie, had to wait anxiously at home in Steyning.
But gradually over a few days Millie’s condition began to improve and she was transferred back to Worthing before being allowed to finally go home on December 23.
“Doctors said that Millie was a covid carrier, but she had no symptoms of covid,” said Elizabeth. “She had a reaction to it.
“I just want to warn other parents of what could happen.”
She said Millie still had damage to her kidneys and was undergoing regular blood tests.
And she thanked the medics who had cared for Millie. “Southampton ICU were fantastic,” said Elizabeth, “and the doctors in Worthing were also amazing.”

She added that she was thankful that she first contacted doctors when she did. “If I left it 12/24 hours she might not be here today.”