Case study that left everyone shocked
Jesse Brown, an 11-year-old boy from Winter Park, Florida, US, has passed away after developing a deadly flesh-eating infection. His family told Orlando's Fox 35 that doctors determined the infection was sparked after his treadmill injury.
Injured his leg on a treadmill
Jesse had recently injured his leg on a treadmill, his cousin Megan Brown told the news station. Just days after the injury, his mother saw that the boy’s "whole leg was covered in like splotchy, purply, red, almost like bruises."
Group A Strep infection diagnosed
Jesse was quickly admitted to a local hospital's ICU. Doctors found that the boy had developed a Group A Strep infection caused by the Group A Streptococcus bacteria.
For the unversed, Strep A diseases include strep throat, scarlet fever, necrotizing fasciitis, rheumatic fever, impetigo, and more.
Most strep A infections are mild and easily treated, but some are more serious.
Jesse’s infection turned deadly
In this case, the infection turned deadly when it became the flesh-eating necrotizing fasciitis. According to the US CDC, necrotizing fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body and can cause death. Accurate diagnosis, rapid antibiotic treatment, and prompt surgery are important to stopping this infection.
The infection made Jesse's brain swell. Despite doctors' best efforts, the young boy could not be saved.
Infection and treadmill injury
"They said that because he rolled his ankle, that that's likely where the infection attacked it. Because it was already weak," Jesse’s cousin shared.
"For this to kill him in just a matter of days was crazy. If there was more awareness, maybe we could have caught it earlier when we noticed he had a fever," she added.
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Losing "a completely happy and healthy boy"
Megan described Jesse as "a completely happy and healthy boy" who was "destined for great things." He loved to ride dirt bikes and was also a Muay Thai boxer.
"Everyone who met Jesse loved him. He was hilarious, his laugh was contagious, and he just lit up the room," Megan added.
Megan also shared that Jesse was considered "a miracle child" as "his parents were told they would never have children. They had given up hope, and after 10 years of trying, they were blessed with Jesse Ryder Brown. That miracle was taken from us far too soon."