Girl, 13, ‘almost died’ after swelling on her face caused by an infection was mistakenly put down to Covid, parents claim
- WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Bonnie Ghent, 13, was told swelling was Covid
- But it later emerged that a bacterial infection in her eye had spread to her skull
- Bristol youngster has now had infected bones removed which had ‘rotted away’
A 13-year-old girl almost died after swelling on her face was mistakenly put down to Covid, her angry parents have claimed.
Bonnie Ghent tested positive for Covid on Boxing Day, and a week later had swelling all around her eye and a lump on her forehead.
Mother Joanna Curry claimed a GP dismissed Bonnie’s symptoms as being a build-up of fluid from catching coronavirus and said she should take painkillers.
When the swelling got worse over the next few days, Ms Curry took her daughter to a walk-in centre — but medics there recommended she should take Piriton, normally used to soothe allergies.
She later went back only to be told to put a bag of frozen peas on the lump.
The day after being told to try frozen peas and with the swelling refusing to go down, Ms Curry and Bonnie’s father Michael drove her to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
Scans revealed she had an infection in her eye that had spread into the bone making up her forehead, which her mother said had led to it starting to ‘rot away’.
Surgeons removed the infected bone, leaving Bonnie with a scar from ear-to-ear.
She is now waiting for a second operation to insert a metal sheet to replace the lost bone.
Ms Curry said: ‘The doctors told us that if we didn’t take her to hospital that day, within two days she would have been dead.’
Pictured above is Bonnie when she had a swollen face and eye. Doctors eventually determined it was caused by a bacterial infection that had spread to her bone
Bonnie Ghent tested positive for Covid on Boxing Day, and a week later had swelling all around her eye and a lump on her forehead. Doctors said it was likely due to coughing triggered by Covid and told her to take painkillers. But scans reveal it was actually an infection
In some cases, bacterial infections that are left untreated can spread to bones in a condition scientifically known as osteomyelitis.
If spotted quickly the bacteria can easily be treated with antibiotics.
But should the infection be left for too long, surgery may be needed to remove damaged bone.
People with a weakened immune system, a recent injury or who have had a hip replacement are more at risk.
Osteomyelitis most commonly affects the leg bones.
Ms Curry said she first called her GP within a week of Boxing Day, but was only offered a remote consultation.
It was only when the lump appeared on her daughter’s forehead that they were able to have an in-person appointment.
Talking about the ordeal, Ms Curry said: ‘All of this is because it wasn’t looked at properly by the local GP.
‘This should not have happened and should have been looked in to.’
She added: ‘I’m so glad we took her to the hospital in time.
‘If you or your child has any swelling from Covid please please don’t let this happen to you, get it seen too and don’t let the GP fob you off.’
Bonnie has now been discharged, but needs to wear a helmet when she leaves the house in case she falls over or hits her head.
Ms Curry said: ‘She has missed school and not been able to see her friends, for a 13-year-old girl this is so tragic.’
‘We had to take time off work to look after Bonnie. She is on medication seven times a day plus nurse visits for IV injections and saline water in each nostril and hospital visits.
‘The road is a long recovery.’
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