A young girl is now in a comatose and fighting for her life due to a deadly staph infection. How she got the infection is still unknown.
Deadly Staph Infection
According to 12-year-old Deja Smith’s parents, her ordeal began with typical symptoms. She first had runny nose, a headache, and other usual flu symptoms, and before they knew it, she was fighting for her life in the hospital.
It was weeks ago when Smith suddenly fell ill, and the next day, her parents had to rush her to the hospital where doctors diagnosed her with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. So far, Smith is still in a comatose, and family friends say that she already has pneumonia in both of her lungs. Furthermore, doctors have told the family that she might remain in that state for months.
It is still not known how Smith got the infection, but doctors note that MRSA is a really virulent bacteria that anyone can get even if they are healthy.
MRSA
MRSA is a type of antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria. According to studies, one in three people actually carry MRSA in their nose without getting ill. When it does, MRSA typically causes skin infections, but some people may develop pneumonia and, if untreated, could lead to sepsis.
Anyone can get infected with MRSA through infected wounds or by sharing personal items such as razors and towels that have touched infected skin, but athletes, military personnel in barracks, daycare and school students, and those who recently received in-patient medical care are at a higher risk for infections. Further, infection risks may increase when a person engages in activities that involve crowds, skin-to-skin contact, and sharing equipment.
To avoid MRSA, it is important to keep cuts or scrapes clean and covered until they fully heal. Avoiding the sharing of personal items is also important, and so are maintaining good personal hygiene and proper hand washing, especially after exercise.
Anyone who believes that they may have an infection must immediately seek medical care. Its common symptom includes a bump or skin infection that is red, swollen, painful, warm to the touch, full of pus, and is accompanied by fever.
