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Flesh-eating disease necrotising fasciitis has claimed the finger of a five-year-old Invercargill girl.
The Southland Times reported today that Leilani Pennicott spent five weeks in an induced coma in Auckland's Starship Hospital last October after a needle became embedded in her hand.
She had an operation to remove the needle but was admitted to Southland Hospital two days after returning home, having contracted necrotising fasciitis. She was convulsing and lapsed into unconsciousness.
Doctors operated but when Leilani did not respond to treatment, she was flown to Auckland's Starship Hospital.
Her mother, Alana Pennicott, told the newspaper she thought her daughter was a "goner".
"I was bawling my eyes out ... knowing two elderly people had died from the disease about the same time she was in hospital was quite scary," Ms Pennicott said.
Her daughter pulled through and was recovering well, although there were fears she may lose more fingers as a result of the disease.
- NZPA
