Thanks to the internet, moms can share a lot of information online on a wide array of topics. Parents can now network with other parents to find out valuable information about things affecting their children. For example, they can learn about the latest dangerous viral challenges out there that they need to talk to their kids about. Or find new ideas for fun family activities. Now, of course, forums and groups are not always the best place to find quality medical advice. But, in 2019, a child’s odd medical condition went viral, causing a lot of concern.
However, it turned out that the boy had a rare type of strep throat, which prompted his parents to post a dire warning about this condition. Since then, the original post has been deleted. However, Arden and Asley Howley did share a photo of their son, Coop, which shows a significant red butterfly-shaped mark on his face. At first, the Idaho parents figured the mark was “compliments of his little brother,” but they soon came to the conclusion that their son was in need of a doctor. While their son was first prescribed a steroid, they later found out during a trip to the ER that he actually had a rare form of strep throat.
“After seeing a personal physician who gave him a steroid that only made it worse since he didn’t know what it was, we came to the ER at eirmc where they determined he had strep throat but in his sinuses and obviously in his face,” Howley wrote.
Source: Snopes
Coop had developed a form of strep throat known as invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease (iGAS). This condition occurs when the same bacteria that cause regular strep throat enters the bloodstream and infect the nasal passages, face, sinuses, as well as other organs, which can even include the brain, making it potentially fatal.
“It could have been really bad[…] had we not came in, they told us it will continue to migrate through there eyes and into their brain if not treated,” Coop’s dad reported.
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However, iGas is still a rare condition. That said, the Hawleys felt it was best to share their son’s photo, just in case anyone else out there has a child suffering from the same affliction.
“They believe we caught his in time but please take this and show as far and wide as you can. It may save someone’s babies.”
And that’s to Coop’s story. Another mom took her son to the doctor just in the nick of time. She shared her experience on the Facebook page for “Simply Real Moms.” After she read the Howley’s post, the parent suspected that there could be something more to her son’s condition when he woke up with a high fever and red marks on his face:
“Last Tuesday my youngest son woke up with a fever so we geared up for yet another flu victim in the house. On Thursday morning he was looking bad and I noticed weird red marks on his face… I started to worry a little because I had recently seen another mother’s post about marks on her child’s face and how serious it ended up being but couldn’t remember what it was or who had shared the post to even search for it. By that evening, my son was covered in a splotchy rash… I was hoping in my heart that he just had a fever rash and put him to bed,” she wrote.
The next morning, the fever and red marks were still there. So, she decided to take her son to the doctor and have him tested for strep throat.
When the results came back, it turns out he had strep as well as influenza. Her doctor informed her that the face marks were “common symptoms.”
“…the Dr said that a rash and the facial marks are common symptoms. I had NO idea and apparently neither does anyone I’ve told over the past few days and so I feel obligated to let other parents know about these unknown indicators that your child is suffering from strep.”
Oklahoma resident Candace Reeves McMahan shared photos of her son Luke who also had strep and influenza. However, it seems his condition affected his eyes. She noted that the pictures were essential to share with parents so they could know what to look out for.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2275154029171460&set=pcb.2275154265838103&type=3&theater
Had doctors not diagnosed his condition in time, the bacteria would have indeed migrated to his brain.
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However, doctors still needed to perform surgery to drain the pus from the young man’s eyelids.
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By the end, all three kids fully recovered from their illnesses after receiving antibiotic treatment. However, their doctors confirmed that they were lucky to have caught this condition in time.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2275154132504783&set=pcb.2275154265838103&type=3&theater
Now, posts these posts are not meant to spread hysteria, especially since these strep complications are relatively rare. That said, parents need to know this information just in case their children show these specific symptoms. Also, some of the best ways to avoid getting the flu or strep are to visit your local healthcare provider and get a flu shot, wash hands frequently, and avoid the overuse of antibiotics for any condition that’s not diagnosed by your doctor as a bacterial infection.
