Hot tub skin infection leaves 12-year-old girl in agony for two years

15 November 2023 , 21:32

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Poppy Burns has been in pain for two years (Image: Georgina Burns / SWNS)

A mum has demanded answers after her daughter spent the last two years in agony thanks to a skin condition she caught from a hot tub.

Poppy Burns was ten in 2021 when she got skin infections in her toe after spending time in a hot tub. She was given antibiotics but, after an incident while playing football was in agony. She was eventually told she had complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and Poppy’s mother, Georgina Burns, realised it may be managed - but not completely cured. Worse still, the pain can move to other limbs, leaving Poppy in agony.

The youngster preparing for therapy in Italy (Georgina Burns / SWNS)

Her mum told StokeonTrentLive : “The pain can move around her body. It is extreme, she describes it as little people in her foot that are stabbing her. She has very sensitive skin, nothing can touch it. When it spread to her feet she couldn't put her feet down. She would be crawling around on her knees or if we went out she would be in a wheelchair. Her wrists will lock in a bent 90-degree position so she can't move them and then we have to take her to A&E where they will give her gas and air and pull her wrists back up.

"We have tried many different things to help her, she has had nerve-blocking medications and pain medications but for some reason, IV paracetamol seems to help."

Poppy caught an infection from a hot tub (Georgina Burns / SWNS)

Earlier this year Georgina and Poppy flew to Italy for Scrambler Therapy, which is not available in the UK. It involves the use of electronic stimulation on the skin with the goal of overwhelming pain information with non-pain information.

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Georgina said: "By the end of the two-week visit she was in zero pain and her skin was completely cleared up. She was on cloud nine, like a different person, she was so happy. Around a week of being back, the pain came back massively, however, her joints haven't locked since and her sensitive skin hasn't returned."

November is CRPS awareness month and Georgina is calling for more research and more awareness. She hopes a cure can be found and people like Poppy don't have to experience a life of pain.

Georgina said: "The more people that know about it the more chance there is of more research being done and someone coming up with medication that can help. Unfortunately at the minute, there is very little medication for it. Poppy is very lucky as she has had an awful lot of support from her friends. They have all stuck with her brilliantly. It is a really difficult thing to understand and they have been there for her."

Antony Thrower