Reality TV star Chloe Crowhurst said it breaks her heart that her eight-month old daughter Aria Anne Houghton has contracted Strep A, according to a doctor.
The former Love Island contestant said she visited the GP because her daughter’s face “looked so bad” but she wasn’t expecting the diagnosis she received.
Posting a video of the giggling and smiling baby in the bath to her Instagram story, Crowhurst wrote: “My baby girl has the dreaded Strep A. I honestly have the symptoms saved in my phone and have read lots of info on this because I was SO worried like most mummy’s are.
“I feel like symptoms vary so much in each individual, I’m going to share Aria’s with you.. they aren’t just the textbook symptoms!
“I honestly went to the doctor because her face looked so bad, didn’t expect it to be Strep A, breaks my heart but she’s doing just fine. But we know our babies better than anyone, always get them checked if you’re worried.”
Crowhurst welcomed her daughter in April this year, with photographer boyfriend David Houghton.
The reality star, who appeared in the 2017 version of ITV’s hit reality dating show, described her daughter’s symptoms which included sores on her chin that had “become infected” and a rash all over her body with some becoming “blistery and dry” on her tummy.
She added: “Spots all over her throat (which I didn’t see until doctor checked). Was completely not herself, just clingy and randomly crying! She also wouldn’t sleep at night.”
It comes as figures released on Thursday revealed at least 19 children have now died across the UK from invasive Strep A disease.
Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from minor illnesses to deadly diseases. Illnesses caused by Strep A include the skin infection impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat.
While the vast majority of infections are relatively mild, sometimes the bacteria can cause a life-threatening illness called invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) disease.
The Government has previously acknowledged supply issues of some of the drugs used to treat infections caused by the bacteria.
Crowhurst featured in Love Island alongside Camilla Thurlow, Olivia Attwood, Kem Cetinay, Montana Brown, Chris Hughes and Amber Davies.