Cwmbran dad tells of ‘horrendous’ effects of sickness bug on son (From Free Press Series)

Cwmbran dad tells of ‘horrendous’ effects of sickness bug on son

11:10am Saturday 15th September 2012 in News By Andy Rutherford - Health correspondent

THE father of a seven-year-old victim of the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Gwent has spoken of the "horrendous" effects on his son, who had to spend several days in hospital.

Leo Baillon, from Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, is among 14 confirmed cases in the outbreak, declared by public health experts on Tuesday, but is not among the seven of those linked to the currently closed Newport Centre pool, which is being drained and deep cleaned.

The source of Leo's illness, which badly affected him over a two-week period from mid-August, remains a mystery.

After beginning to feel unwell, he suffered severe sickness and diarrhoea that was initially diagnosed as gastro-enteritis.

"By the Saturday night (August 17) he was really ill, and being constantly sick. We took him to the emergency (out-of-hours) doctor on the Sunday morning and we were told to go straight to the Royal Gwent Hospital," said Leo's dad Mike, who also lives with wife Claire and son one-year-old Oscar.

Leo was on a children's ward for three days, on a drip in a room on his own while doctors tried to get some fluids into him.

"He wasn't right for another couple of weeks and he lost half a stone, which is a lot," said Mr Baillon.

Leo was tested for cryptosporidiosis whilst in hospital, and confirmed after five or six days.

"It was horrendous to see him so ill, and he had no energy. He's normally a really active boy but at its worst he couldn't get off his bed," said Mr Baillon.

"But staff on D6 East at the hospital were brilliant and the authorities have taken it very seriously.

"He's better, he's eating really well now, but it was frightening and we don't know where he picked it up."

Cryptosporidiosis, caused by the bug cryptosporidium, can cause watery diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, and fever. It can last for two weeks or more, and symptoms can fluctuate. Anyone with concerns about their health should contact their GP.