How do you fight an infection that drugs can't stop?
A troubling new study finds that MRSA is on the rise in children.
When Amiyah Hoskins was 4 months old last October, her temperature suddenly shot up. She was diagnosed with a lymph node infection in her neck. It was MRSA.
Dr. Syboney Zapata of Emory Medical Center quickly performed surgery to drain the affected area - the only treatment possible.
"When the infections start in the head and neck regions, they can easily extend into the chest," said Waymonlyn Hoskins, Amiyah's mother.
MRSA has been a growing problem in the U.S. - first in hospitals, then in schools and prisons, and now in the general community.
A new study finds a big increase in kids who come down with ear, nose and throat infections. If your child doesn't get better, Dr. Danielle Zerr of Seattle Children's Hospital says to see your doctor and get a culture.
"A small proportion of them are life-threatening, and that's where we are challenged to make sure that we're identifying those kids who have more serious infections and managing them appropriately right from the get-go," she said.
Dr. Steven Sobol of Emory University School of Medicine, who headed the study, says parents and doctors need to watch for infections that do not heal properly and follow the usual precautions such as hand-washing. but he says there is no need to overdo it.
"The main point is, don't panic. This is something that has been around for years and will likely to continue to be around for years," he said.
After her treatment, Amiyah Hoskins healed quickly and today is a healthy 7-month old, but she's also a reminder of the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.
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