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Teen becomes triple amputee following common illness
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Kaydin Baldwin, a 13-year-old from Kerrville, Texas, experienced severe complications from the flu, leading to a 117-day hospital stay and triple amputation of her right arm and both legs to save her life.
- Her flu progressed to necrotizing pneumonia caused by bacterial infections, including strep pneumonia and sepsis, which are rare but life-threatening complications of influenza.
- Despite her challenges, Kaydin remains strong and is undergoing rehabilitation with prosthetic limbs, supported by a GoFundMe campaign for medical and home modification expenses.
- The CDC reports that while most flu cases resolve quickly, severe complications like multi-organ failure and bacterial infections can occur, with 390,000 to 800,000 hospitalizations and up to 81,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
- Last winter saw a rise in a more contagious and severe "super flu" variant, the H3N2 subclade K, leading to increased hospital admissions and public health concerns.
