A six-year-old boy was left with brain seizures and brain swelling hospitalized after he contracted a virus from a mosquito bite.
Noah Surrett, six, from Waynesville, North Carolina, began complaining of headaches two weeks ago.
His mother, LoriAnne and father, Dakota, gave him pain medication but it didn’t help. The next day, Noah became unresponsive and had a seizure.
After he was rushed to the hospital and several tests were run, doctors told LoriAnne that Noah had contracted a rare virus known as LaCrosse encephalitis, which is transmitted via mosquito bites.
LoriAnne told Daily Mail Online that Noah is not out of the woods yet because he’s on seizure medication for the next two months and said she’s sharing her son’s story to warn parents about the disease and hopefully prevent a similar situation from occurring to their children.
Noah Surrett, six (left and right), from Waynesville, North Carolina, was left hospitalized for almost a week after he contracted a rare virus from a mosquito bite. Noah began complaining of headaches about two weeks ago
Pain medication did little to relieve his headaches and the next day, Noah (pictured) became unresponsive and suffered a seizure
LaCrosse encephalitis (LAC) is a rare virus that is contracted through mosquito bites and is most common in Midwestern and mid-Atlantic states.
Although many who are infected the virus don’t show any symptoms, signs don’t typically appear until five to 10 days after being bitten.
Symptoms can include fatigue, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.
According to the CDC, severe cases can result in an inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, with side effects such as seizures, coma, and paralysis.
There is no treatment for LAC, although severe cases may require hospitalization, respiratory support and IV fluids.
The CDC says that between 2004 and 2013 in the US, there were 787 total cases of LAC and 11 deaths.
On Saturday, August 4, LoriAnne and Dakota were taking Noah and his two older brothers to his grandparents’ house when he began complaining of a headache.
After giving him some pain medication, she said Noah seemed fine and he stayed the night with his grandparents.
Doctors performed a chest X-ray, a CT scan, a blood test, a urine test, and a spinal tap before diagnosing him with LaCrosse encephalitis. Pictured: Dakota and LoriAnne Surrett with Noah (second from left) and their four other sons
LAC is a rare virus that is contracted through mosquito bites and although many who are infected don’t show any symptoms, signs don’t usually appear until five to 10 days after being bitten. Pictured: Noah in the hospital
Severe cases can result in an inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, with side effects such as seizures, coma, and paralysis. Pictured: Noah in the hospital
The next day, after complaining of a headache again, LoriAnne received a call from her mother-in-law that Noah was ‘in a daze’ and not responding.
‘Then I heard: “Oh my god, he’s having a seizure” and I heard my father-in-law in the background yelling: “Call 911!”‘ she told Daily Mail Online.
An ambulance transferred Noah to Mission Hospital in Asheville, about 30 minutes away from where the Surretts live because it is the closest hospital with a pediatric unit.
Noah’s temperature was 102.3F and the EMS first believed he was having a febrile seizure, which is when young children experience seizures or convulsions due to fevers.
However, doctors performed a chest X-ray, a CT scan, a blood test, a urine test, and a spinal tap.
When the spinal tap results came back, LoriAnnne was told that Noah had LAC.
‘I was absolutely clueless because they said LaCrosse encephalitis and I was like: “What is that?”‘ she said.
‘So they brought the pediatric ER doctor down who explained it to me that it’s close to meningitis.’
It turned out the headaches that Noah was complaining about were actually his brain swelling with fluids.
Noah spent the next five days in the hospital, only responsive when he wasn’t on pain medication.
Noah (pictured, in the hospital) spent the next five days in the hospital, only responsive when he wasn’t on pain medication
On August 10, Noah was discharged from the hospital. LoriAnne says he’s doing better, finally getting his appetite back after losing five pounds while in the hospital. Pictured: Noah, right, with one of his brothers
Noah is on seizure medication twice a day for the next two months. If he experiences any more seizures, he’ll have to see a neurologist. Pictured: Dakota and LoriAnne with Noah (first row, far right) and their four other sons
‘He was kind of in like a coma state of mind and his mind wasn’t there,’ LoriAnne said.
‘The only thing they could do for him is give him medicine and let [the virus] run its course.’
On August 10, Noah was discharged from the hospital. LoriAnne says he’s doing better, finally getting his appetite back after losing five pounds while in the hospital.
However, he’s on seizure medication twice a day for the next two months. If he experiences any more seizures, he’ll have to see a neurologist.
LoriAnne said she was shocked because she’s gone to great measures to protect her sons against insect bites.
‘We live in the country, and I religiously put bug spray on all five of my kids,’ she said.
‘They have bites at all times from being outside but none that have resulted in anything.’
LoriAnne posted photos of Noah in the hospital on Facebook on August 8, which she hopes will help spread awareness of the virus.
So far, the post has received more than 8,800 reactions and has been shared more than 14,000 times.
A family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds to cover Noah’s medical bills.
Currently, $150 has been raised out of a $5,000 goal.