A couple of first-time parents were horrified to discover their baby’s temperature and restless nights were not symptoms of ‘teething’ but rather a potentially deadly infection.
Thom and Hannah Lynch, both 29, struggled to get nine-month-old Barney to eat his food and go to sleep.
Initially they shrugged it off as common teething pain, but, as the baby’s condition worsened and led him to cry out in agony, the couple took him to hospital.
Doctors then delivered the bombshell news their son was suffering from septic arthritis – the inflammation of a joint caused by bacterial infection which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.
Thankfully, after two operations, Barney has made a great recovery and has beaten back the infection.
Yet the Lynches, from Swansea, Wales, will never forget the ‘worst moment of their lives’ of having to hold their son down as he was put to sleep for surgery.
Hannah Lynch, 29, with son Barney who underwent surgery for septic arthritis which the parents initially believed was teething
Nine-month-old Barney had two operations at Norfolk and Norwich university hospital to drain the infection from his hip and remove other ‘pockets’ of the disease which had spread throughout his body
Following blood tests and an X-Ray, the Lynches were told Barney had septic arthritis caused by an infection spreading through his body and ending up in the joints around his hip bone
Project manager Mr Lynch said: ‘It was the worst moment of our lives seeing our little boy being put under anaesthetic… I had to hold him whilst he was put under and it was really hard to watch.
‘Hannah and I cried and prayed the whole time Barney was in surgery.’
The baby had been diagnosed with septic arthritis of the hip, which had been caused by a common cold which developed into an infection.
When Barney, now 11 months old, first had a temperature and endured restless nights, the Lynches assumed it was the symptoms of teething experienced by all babies.
But they consulted a GP friend, who also dismissed it as a tummy bug.
Mr Lynch said: ‘Barney had been acting a bit off a few days prior to him going to hospital and when we asked a friend of ours who’s a GP, they said it sounded like he had a bit of a tummy bug.
Project manager Thom Lynch, 29, said he will never forget the ‘worst moment of their lives’ having to hold their son down as he was put to sleep
Two months on from the ordeal, Barney has been doing well and appears to be reaching all of his milestones as expected such as crawling, eating well and chatting
‘Initially we thought Barney was just teething. He was really whingey and had a slight temperature, as well as being off his food and not sleeping very well – all things often associated with teething.
‘But when Barney started to get pains in the top of his legs and midriff, as well as a high temperature, we were advised to take him to hospital as soon as possible.
‘We thought we would just be getting some medication or something for Barney – Hannah and I never expected he’d be rushed into surgery.’
Following blood tests and an X-Ray, the Lynches were told Barney had septic arthritis caused by an infection spreading through his body and ending up in the joints around his hip bone.
Barney had to spend a couple of weeks in Norfolk and Norwich university hospital where he received antibiotics
Two months on from his operation, Barney has been doing well and appears to be reaching all of his milestones as expected such as crawling, eating well and chatting
In a successful bid to drain the infection, Barney was taken into surgery.
Yet he needed a second operation after doctors found several other ‘pockets’ of the infection had spread throughout his body.
Mr Lynch added: ‘Eight days after Barney’s first surgery, his temperature kept soaring up so he had an MRI scan which showed the infection had spread.
‘Following this, they told us he needed a second surgery to remove the remainder of the infection.
‘They put Barney under anaesthetic again and gave him a PICC line and drained the rest of the infection.
‘He was then on antibiotics for four weeks afterwards.
‘Barney fortunately recovered really well after the second surgery and within 24 hours he was smiling more, playing more and moving his legs more which was a massive relief.’
Two months on from his operation, Barney has been doing well and appears to be reaching all of his milestones as expected such as crawling, eating well and chatting.
Mr Lynch said added: ‘Doctors are really pleased with how Barney is progressing and he’s even started crawling recently too.
‘However, they did have to remove a bit of his hip and they won’t know if that has caused any problems until he’s started walking – but we’re optimistic that he’s going to be alright.’
Septic arthritis is the inflammation of a joint caused by a bacterial infection. Bacteria often enters the bloodstream via a wound, but in Barney’s case it was picked up through a common cold.
Any joint can be affected by the condition, but it mainly occurs in knees and hips.
Most people make a full recovery after treatment, but if it is left untreated septic arthritis can cause permanent joint damage and can be life-threatening.
