NEED TO KNOW
A Florida teen has contracted a flesh-eating bacteria after swimming in coastal waters
Joziah Thompson, 17, is hospitalized due to a severe Vibrio vulnificus infection
“As soon as I looked at his leg I said, ‘Oh, we need to go now,’” his mother said
A Florida mother is asking for help after her teenage son’s day swimming with his siblings has turned into a “medical nightmare.”
Tirzah Thompson, the mother of 17-year-old Joziah Thompson, is speaking out after his swim in local waters left him hospitalized with a severe Vibrio vulnificus infection, often referred to as a flesh-eating bacteria, according to a GoFundMe.
Joziah Thompson
Credit: gofundme
The teen was at Lion’s Park in Niceville when the infection occurred, Thompson told WALA. It started with a scratch on his leg before sparking concern.
PEOPLE reached out to the City of Niceville for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
“Two days later and his entire leg was red, he was moaning and hot to the touch and in a lot of pain,” Thompson told the news station. “As soon as I looked at his leg I said, ‘Oh, we need to go now.’”
Joziah “is currently fighting for his life” after coming into contact with the bacterium, which is typically found in warm, brackish coastal waters, according to the GoFundMe.
Some species of Vibrio, including the one Joziah contracted, can cause severe and life-threatening infections, per the Centers for Disease Control.
The teen has already undergone multiple surgeries to remove infected tissue and is currently receiving treatment at Studer Family Children’s Hospital in Pensacola. His ongoing recovery includes “wound care, a wound vac, ongoing monitoring, and additional medical procedures as doctors work to save his leg and protect his health.”
“Along the way, he has also experienced serious complications, including concerns involving his heart, episodes of rapid heart rate, fluid retention, and the physical and emotional toll that comes with battling such an aggressive infection,” his mother added via the fundraising website.
Joziah Thompson
Credit: gofundme
She also said that as a spa owner, she has had to stop taking clients to care for Joziah during his hospitalization.
“It’s been a whirlwind trying to make sure he’s okay and it’s been taxing for sure,” Thompson told the news station.
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Thompson said she wants city leaders to help spread awareness about Vibrio vulnificus and its complications.
“That’s why I’m pushing for a system [to be] put in place to know the bacteria levels in local waters. I don’t want this to happen to any other children,” she told WALA. “My son is 5-foot-11, 225 pounds. What if this was a 5-year-old who doesn’t have the strength to fight something off like this?”
Read the original article on People