Damaris K., 12

Damaris would like to be a nurse when she grows up. She likes the thought of taking care of a sick patient until his/her health is restored. Her hobbies are singing and dancing. When helping around with the house chores or doing some gardening, she can often be heard singing and occasionally can be seen dancing as she goes about her chores. She has been having joint pains, abdominal pains, hotness of body and loose stool for the past 3 days. The symptoms were mild when they begun and her mother assumed that it was not something serious. However, the symptoms worsened and Damaris had to skip school. When her mother went to school to inform Damaris's teacher that she was sick, she went on to inform the teacher that she did not have money to take Damaris to hospital and she had just left Damaris at home. Damaris's teacher informed her mother about Helpster Charity and she went back home and brought Damaris to hospital.

Damaris has been having joint pains, abdominal pains, hotness of body and loose stool for the past 3 days. She was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and was put on intravenous fluids to improve her hydration status as other medical tests were done to rule out any other sources of infection. She improved after a few days and was discharged from hospital to go home.

Infective diarrhoea is treatable with antibiotics and rehydration solution, if not urgently treated Damaris would be at risk of developing dehydration, kidney failure and brain problems, therefore treatment should be commenced immediately.