Brit tot left fighting for life as holiday food poisoning becomes deadly condition

Brit tot left fighting for life as holiday food poisoning becomes deadly condition Lara Holt’s 19-month-old son Cillian fell ill with food poisioning on a family trip to Egypt, but when they got back home the family were told his condition had developed into something more serious A mum has recalled the horrifying moment her family holiday turned into a nightmare as doctors said her 19-month-old son might die after he suddenly fell ill. Lara Holt’s 19-month-old son Cillian came down with food poisoning while on holiday in Egypt and ended up battling for his life after it developed into a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. “It was the most terrifying experience of my life,” Lara from Liverpool said. “One moment, we thought we were dealing with food poisoning from a holiday, and the next we were being told our baby could go into cardiac arrest. “I remember feeling completely helpless watching him attached to machines and tubes. As a parent, you would do anything to take that pain away from your child.” Lara had been on holiday with husband Richard, as well as Cillian and their two older children, Lily-Mae and Olivia in Hurghada in 2019 when disaster struck. Lara said the holiday “seemed perfect” at first but things started to go wrong when Richard fell sick. Just days after arriving he suffered severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea. A day later, Lara and the children were suffering with the same symptoms. A doctor at the hotel was able to treat Richard, Lily-Mae and Olivia but Cillian was too young for the medication and Lara was unable to take it due to other health issues she had at the time. The worried parents could see their little boy was struggling with the illness, even trying to cut their holiday short to get him back to the UK. “We became increasingly concerned because Cillian became very lethargic and weak,” Lara said. “We tried to find flights to come home early but were unsuccessful. We made it to the airport and after we checked our bags, I took Cillian to the toilet to change his nappy – and all hell broke loose. “[It was] the most diarrhoea I've ever seen come out of a toddler. I put all of Cillian’s clothes in the bin and cleaned my dress the best I could. We had to buy something for me and Cillian to fly home in. “The only thing I could get was way too small for me but I had to wear it and Cillian had a dress too.” Once the family made it back to the UK the rest of them started to feel better, but Cillian’s condition “deteriorated rapidly”. Terrified Lara “knew something was seriously wrong” as the toddler was pale, exhausted and withdrawn. Lara took Cillian to A&E, where he stayed overnight but without a urine sample, doctors struggled to diagnose him. They were sent home and told to return with a sample the following day, but Cillian woke the next day sleepy and with blood in his urine. Returning to the hospital, the tot underwent blood tests and Lara was given the terrifying news. “Then I was taken to another room and asked to lie on the bed, they placed Cillian on top of me and told me how serious everything was. They put a mask on his face to bring down his potassium levels because they were so high. “We were told he could go into cardiac arrest. “I was trying to text my husband with one hand to come to the hospital straight away. Hearing those words about your baby is something you never forget.” Specialists told Lara Cillian’s E.coli infection had developed into a serious condition called Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) which damages small blood vessels, lowers platelet counts and causes acute kidney injury. Cillian was given emergency treatment, including kidney dialysis for 10 days with a 24-hour nurse, as well as blood transfusions, a platelet transfusion and feeding support. Lara described seeing Cillian in hospital as “absolutely heartbreaking” - she said the wait for him to return from emergency dialysis was the longest of her life. On returning from treatment, Cillian suffered two seizures and his parents were told he may have brain damage. Days into his hospital stay, his sisters were allowed to visit “as there was a chance he wouldn't make it”. Luckily, the little boy soon started to recover and his family were able to hold him and remove his feeding tube. Lara said: “The first time we got to hold our baby was such a special moment. He was completely swollen from the treatment; just being able to cuddle him was unreal.” The toddler spent 21 days in hospital but was eventually well enough to be allowed home. Cillian is now an eight-year-old “happy, energetic little boy” but he still needs to be monitored by doctors over long-term damage to his kidneys and recently underwent surgery due to complications from the illness. Lara added: “What happened to Cillian changed our family forever. At the time, we genuinely believed once he survived and came home, the nightmare was over. But years later we are still dealing with the emotional and physical aftermath. No family goes on holiday expecting their child to end up fighting for their life.” For other parents, Lara’s advice is to “trust your instincts”. She added: “If your child becomes unusually tired, pale, lethargic, stops eating or drinking properly, or you notice severe diarrhoea or signs of dehydration after illness abroad, seek medical help immediately. “With Cillian, things escalated frighteningly quickly. Parents should never feel embarrassed about pushing for medical attention if they feel something is wrong.”