Mum’s warning as two toddlers left with brain damage and kidney failure after visit to petting zoo

TWO toddlers have been left fighting for their lives in intensive care with brain and kidney damage after visiting the same petting zoo. One of the children, a three-year-old girl, is currently in intensive care at Monash Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, with permanent brain damage, and may need a kidney transplant, local media reports. Pictured, Noah, aged two, was one of the children infected by STEC after visiting the petting zoo Credit: 9News He spent 17 days in intensive care receiving treatment after his kidneys began to shut down Credit: 9News The other child, aged two, spent almost three weeks in the same intensive care unit after his kidneys began to shut down. Both were believed to have contracted shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), a rare strain of the diarrhoea-causing bug. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! It can spread through contact with the waste of infected animals and can cause bloody diarrhoea. The two-year-old boy, Noah, was left in intensive care after STEC triggered haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure. Noah’s mother Brooke Snooks said she was in “disbelief” after he spent 17 days receiving dialysis in intensive care. She said her son became extremely unwell days after visiting the petting farm, was vomiting, “couldn’t keep anything down” and had diarrhoea. Speaking to 9News, she said: “It was like standard gastro symptoms which is absolutely terrifying because you don’t know what that means and there’s no way to predict how it’s gonna play out.” Her son made a recovery. But she said the other child, with whom she has a mutual friend, was still unwell. Most read in Health The three-year-old girl has a “permanent brain injury” and may now need a kidney transplant after her kidneys failed to recover, she said. She added: “It’s really hard to stop a toddler from putting their hands in their mouth, so you’ve just gotta try and be on alert of that. “I think because of how serious the illness can be for toddlers, that is life-threatening, I think there should be a lot more warnings when you go to the farm, cause it’s something that I never thought of.” Dr Nick Larkins, a nephrologist from Perth Children’s Hospital who has treated many children with HUS, said the bacteria lived harmlessly in the guts of many farm animals, particularly cattle, sheep and goats. He said many animals carried the bacteria without becoming sick themselves. Dr Larkins also said that unlike E.coli outbreaks in food processing, incidents at farms were not always a reflection of poor hygiene. Everything you need to know about Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) THE most common type of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the UK is O157. Symptoms People infected with STEC can have a combination of the following symptoms: diarrhoea (about 50 per cent of cases have bloody diarrhoea) stomach cramps fever Some people may have mild diarrhoea, or even no symptoms at all. Symptoms can last up to two weeks in cases without complications. A small proportion of patients, mainly children, may develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) which is a serious life-threatening condition resulting in kidney failure. And a small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP). How it’s transmitted Cattle are the most important reservoir of STEC O157 in the UK, although STEC have also been found in the faeces of a range of animals, including deer, rabbits, horses, pigs and wild birds. People can become infected by: eating contaminated food contact with infected animals either directly or through inadvertent contact with animal faeces, for example at farms, petting farms and campsites contact with other people who have the illness (through inadequate hand hygiene after using the toilet, before food handling – particularly in households, nurseries and infant schools, or both drinking water from inadequately treated water supplies swimming or playing in contaminated water such as ponds or streams How to avoid getting it Good hygiene practices relating to food and drink, and animals and their environment can hep you avoid getting infected. You must: cook all minced meat products (burgers, meatloaf, meat balls) thoroughly, until the colour is the same all the way through, and no blood runs from them ensure refrigerators are working correctly – bacteria grow more quickly at temperatures over 4oC only leave cooked foods, meat and dairy products out at room temperature for a short time store uncooked meats below cooked meats and salad vegetables to avoid dripping juices onto ready to eat food store uncooked and cooked meats on different plates, avoid all contact between raw and cooked meats thoroughly wash all salad vegetables and do not prepare them with utensils that have also been used for raw meat children and the elderly who are particularly susceptible to the severe effects of STEC should avoid eating or drinking unpasteurised dairy products people who have been ill should not prepare food for others for at least 48 hours after they have recovered boil any drinking water if you are unsure of it’s source do not swim in water that you think may be contaminated by cattle and sheep in nearby fields wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet (or helping others including changing nappies), handling raw meat, before meals and after contact with animals How to treat STEC There is no specific treatment for STEC infection. The illness is usually self-limiting, and will clear itself within a week. It’s important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration. Antibiotics are not recommended and are likely to increase the risk of getting complications such as HUS. Also, stay away from work or school until 48 hours after you’ve stopped vomiting or having diarrhoea. Source: UK Health Security Agency He said HUS was most commonly triggered by the Shiga toxin entering a person’s blood and creating small blood clots that block the kidneys, causing them to “shut off”. Victoria’s health department, which covers Melbourne, said it was investigating the cases. It has also advised the farm to increase handwashing stations and to display a sign at its entrance warning of the risk of infection and the importance of handwashing. STEC is considered to be extremely infectious, only a few bacteria need to be ingested for a person to become ill. It is primarily spread by eating contaminated foods, such as raw vegetables that have not been washed or stored correctly or from undercooked meat. It can also be spread by touching infected animals or their faeces, either directly or through contaminated water. People can also pass the bug on through direct content, such as caring for a child who is sick and then touching their face and mouth without properly washing their hands. Symptoms include vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, the UKHSA says. Children under the age of five are most commonly affected by HUS. However, it can also affect other vulnerable groups, including the elderly and immunocompromised. Brits are advised to contact NHS 111 or their GP if they or their children show any symptoms of E. coli infection. For children under five these can include disinterest in breast or bottle feeding and signs of dehydration such as fewer wet nappies. Both adults and children are advised to call NHS 111 or their GP if they keep vomiting for two days or have diarrhoea for a week. Anyone suffering bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom should call NHS 111 or their GP immediately. Comment now