Elijah's ordeal with chickenpox has prompted his mum to speak out about vaccination. Photo / Facebook, Kayley Burke
Elijah's ordeal with chickenpox has prompted his mum to speak out about vaccination. Photo / Facebook, Kayley Burke
WARNING: Graphic images
They are the horrifying pictures posted by a desperate mother who doesn't want other parents to go through the same trauma she's had to endure.
Queensland woman Kayley Burke shared confronting images of her 11-month-old son Elijah, who is visibly covered in scabs and blisters caused by chickenpox.
Ms Burke revealed in a Facebook post, which has been shared more than 27,000 times, that her son contracted chickenpox because he was "too young to be immunised".
After her son was admitted to hospital one-week ago, Ms Burke told theSunshine Coast Daily her son had been crying and trying to itch the sores that now cover his entire head.
"It's horrible I can't think of anything worse (than watching him go through this)," she said.
"I'm very annoyed that he's sick. I'm a strong believer in vaccinations and I'm sure if he was old enough to have the shot he wouldn't be so sick."
Little Elijah was admitted to Ipswich Hospital on Thursday with a secondary infection.
Ms Burke revealed that both she and her other child, three-year-old Kaliah also contracted chickenpox. It is understood her daughter had been recently immunised.
"Kaliah and myself also have the chickenpox," she wrote.
"Fortunately since Kaliah hasn't long been immunised she has a few spots and blisters but is well in herself."
Photo / Facebook, Kayley Burke
She admitted that adult chickenpox was "horrible and painful" and that she would "rather give birth with no pain relief".
Ms Burke said the chickenpox she had contracted had spread inside her mouth and down her throat, causing significant pain. When her son stopped drinking his bottle, she assumed the same had happened to him.
Ms Burke pleaded with other parents to not be "a bloody idiot" and ignore vaccination.
"Think about the risk you are putting on other helpless kids that are too young or who actually can't be vaccinated," she said.
Shocked parents who came across Ms Burke's desperate plea sent their love, and wished the little boy a "speedy recovery".
"Can't stand hearing about stupid selfish people not vaccinating their children," one Facebook user posted.
"Poor little guy. My hearts breaking for you guys. It's just horrible watching their tiny helpless bodies lying there and not been able to do anything about it. Thinking of you guys and hoping you all have a quick and speedy recovery."
According to medical professionals, groups most at risk of chickenpox are infants, pregnant women, people undergoing chemotherapy and those with a low immune system.
Photo / Facebook, Kayley Burke
Ipswich Hospital director of pediatrics John Gavranich said the only way to reduce catching the disease was for parents to immunise their children.
