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Leeds girl’s mystery illness breakthrough
Alicia Brook with her daughter Melody.
MEDICS have finally found answers over why a seven-year-old was struck down by a mystery illness which left her disabled.
The YEP revealed in 2009 that Melody Brook suddenly lost her ability to walk, talk or feed herself.
Doctors were baffled by her condition but, after years of tests, have discovered Melody was still suffering from an infection she picked up as a baby.
Mum Alicia said she was relieved at the explanation of her daughter’s condition.
“I’ve now got something to go on, I’ve got information,” said the mum-of-three. “This is not a diagnosis but it’s something.”
Melody, from Belle Isle, Leeds, picked up an infection as a baby which caused brain inflammation encephalitis.
Doctors warned could she could be left with brain damage but she recovered and developed normally.
Then in July 2008 she started to lose her speech and movement.
Since then she has been in and out of hospital and has been seen by experts in Leeds, Sheffield and London. They initially diagnosed ataxia, or communication problems, but didn’t know the reason for her decline.
Now a biopsy has shown her brain is still affected by the herpes virus, which medics thought had been treated successfully.
An expert says the findings are “extremely unusual”.
“I’ve never felt so much relief in my life as when I got that letter through,” Mrs Brook said.
“They’re now trying to find out why it’s affected her so badly.”
Melody is now being given intensive drug treatment in Leeds General Infirmary.
“She will be on it for life and it will prevent further damage,” Mrs Brook, 27, added.
“There’s a very small chance of recovery.”
Now her mum is also questioning why Melody was given the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.
The youngster’s deterioration started soon after she had the jab in 2008 and Mrs Brook has now found that her child’s medical records showed a doctor had recommended that Melody should not be given any live vaccines.
She is now planning to seek answers over why she was not made aware of the recommendation.
Herpes simplex encephalitis is a severe viral infection of the nervous system which can be fatal. In rare cases, patients who have been treated can relapse later.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
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SamanthaTolmie
Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 06:23 PMHaving a child of my own who at the age of almost 3 years old became physically similar to Melody over the period of six months after being completely well and normal from birth, and still with no idea whatsoever what has caused it, 4 years later, I totally relate to Alicia's upset and stress at seeing her daughter deterioriate like this. I am so happy that Melody now has a diagnosis of her condition but FOR GOODNESS SAKE it should not have taken this long to find out!
JoanneDrayson
Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 05:09 PMWhat took these doctors so long to diagnose Melody it really is a disgrace. It is also a disgrace that Melody was given vaccines when she was clearly an at risk case for damage as a result of the vaccine. Melody's mum contacted me a couple of years ago about Lyme Disease because Melody's symptoms presented much like a local boy who was thought to have Lyme Disease. When I was told that Melody had Herpes at birth it sounded a very likely candidate for the cause of the return of her symptoms. If a lay person can make this hypothesis why then did it take the doctors so long, if I was the parent I would like to see heads rolling over this case. I wish you well in finding ways to treat Melody adequately and hope that she is able to gain some improvements. My very best wishes to you.
girlly
Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 04:50 PMthe girl doesnt have a std nor does the mother, its from someone who has gone near the newborn child with a coldsore
peskywabbit
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 10:51 PMThe man-made supplement BHT will envelope the RNA virus and thus inactivate it. She should take the BHT, go on a child friendly heavy metal detox and take some food based multivitamins, vitamin C and omega 3 oils.
LovingTruth!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 05:25 PMThink vaccines as the root cause for this girls' illness. Think vaccines as the aggrevation of her problems. Think homeopathy as the solution. (Call dr. Rebecca Carley, http:www.reversingvaccineinduceddiseases.com ). Putting more toxic pharmaceutical drugs into a virally compromised body will never bring any healing! It's not the microbe, dummy, it is the terrain!
rachelwork4u
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 09:53 AMMost people have herpeshivhpvhepatitis may feel lonely and shamed. But 70 million are afflicted with STD in the U.S. alone and an estimated over 400 million worldwide. There is an exclusive community stdsingle,com for singles and friends with STD. If you just need to find someone to talk to or need help or advice, this is the best place. Never feel lonely again!
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