Little girl saved by the phone

Little Emily Cotton is smiling again and her mother, Susan, is singing the praises of the Healthline service after her call produced the right answer. Photo / Dean Purcell

A phone call by Emily Cotton's anxious mother probably saved the little girl's life after she became ill with a rare disorder.

When the 23-month-old from Orewa began screaming hysterically, her mother, Susan, became concerned, especially because the pain her daughter was experiencing seemed to come and go.

"She pointed to her tummy and was quite hysterical," said Mrs Cotton.

"A few minutes later she would be fine, then 15 to 20 minutes later she would be screaming and in pain. This went on for a few hours."

Mrs Cotton took Emily to a doctor, who examined her thoroughly, but her pain had disappeared.

"A few hours after being at the doctor's, she seemed to get worse, screaming uncontrollably."

Mrs Cotton phoned the Ministry of Health-funded 24-hour health advisory service Healthline, where nurse Anna Soesbergen suspected intussusception and recommended Emily be taken immediately to hospital.

Intussusception is a rare disorder in which a part of the intestine slides into the adjoining part, causing a dangerous and extremely painful blockage.

But diagnosis can be difficult, because the pain comes and goes.

Staff at the Starship children's hospital at first thought it was unlikely Emily had the condition because she had not been vomiting and had not passed any blood.

But an ultrasound scan showed her intestine had "telescoped" into itself.

"They gave her an enema. It pumps out the bowel to unblock it," Mrs Cotton said.

What began with intermittent bouts of extreme pain and hysterical screaming ended with successful emergency treatment 16 hours later at 3.30am on February 20.

Emily recovered quickly and is thought unlikely to suffer a recurrence.

It was not her first stay in hospital. She had been discharged days earlier after a stay of several weeks with an infection in her spine.

Mrs Cotton praised Healthline and Ms Soesbergen, who asked numerous questions in trying to identify Emily's problem.

"I think it's an amazing service to pick that up over the phone. It's free; it's brilliant."

She had used the service several times.

"I think it's a good call before you start running off to the doctor."

Healthline: 0800-611-116

MYSTERY ILLNESS

* Intussusception is a rare disorder in which either the small or large intestine "telescopes" into itself.
* It causes a blockage, creating the risk of infection and even death, and gives intermittent but extreme pain.
* It is mainly treated by enema of liquid or air, and sometimes by surgery.