|
18-month-old Nehemiah Easton died last May as a result of complications from Parainfluenza, a virus. (WSBT / January 10, 2013) |
Doctors are always telling people to get a flu shot, especially children and the elderly, but that vaccination, while helpful, doesn't always guarantee you'll avoid coming down with certain flu-like symptoms.
“In the blink of an eye your child can be gone, just like that,” said Ramie George a Michigan City mom, whose 18-month-old son Nehemiah Easton died from complications of Parainfluenza last May.
According to the CDC, Parainfluenza is a virus that leads to respiratory infections.
Parents might notice cold-like symptoms, runny nose, or mild cough, but for some very young kids, it can become life-threatening.
And the flu shot won't do a thing to prevent it.
“I never heard of it. I knew about influenza, I know that's the flu, and I heard of swine flu before, but I never knew about this form of the flu,” said George, who hopes her story will help spread awareness of the virus.
According to the National Institutes of Health there is no specific treatment for Parainfluenza. Doctors instead treat the symptoms, such as coughing.
