Saturday, June 9, 2012

Girl, 1, can only eat fish fingers as mystery illness means anything else could kill her

This is the one-year-old girl who can only eat fish fingers - because her mystery illness means almost anything else could kill her. Imogen Elliott, from Coventry, is severely allergic to grass, pollen, animal fur, polyester, plastic, cosmetics, chemicals and even sunlight. 

Almost any food can trigger a life-threatening reaction, so the 20-month-old child's mother Kirsty sustains the sensitive girl on an unchanging diet of gluten-free fish fingers. Doctors believe the problem is down to an underlying condition - but as yet they have no idea what that could be. Until Imogen's illness is diagnosed, her mother Kirsty has to be constantly on the alert for a potentially fatal reaction. If Imogen eats or comes into contact with something she is allergic to, her skin erupts in painful, itchy sores and she is often violently sick. Last year, the toddler's family gave her some tuna - which she had always been able to eat before. The youngster immediately went into anaphylactic shock, her throat swelling up and cutting off her oxygen supply.

 Her terrified mother rushed her to hospital, where doctors were fortunately able to save her life. Had she got there any later, Imogen might not be alive today. Mrs Elliott, 30, said: 'It was a really scary day. I could have lost her. 'Some children can build up tolerance to foods but the more exposure Imogen has, the worse her reactions get. 'I always keep fish fingers in the freezer. She loves fish fingers.

 'Her diet does worry me. I have to give her multi-vitamins and calcium supplements.' As a baby, Imogen struggled to keep her milk down and her distraught mother was even accused of making her daughter sick. It was only as she got older that doctors realised the extent of her allergies. 

Mrs Elliott and husband Mark, 35, have now spent all their savings on buying an uncontaminated new house and spent three months researching before they bought any furniture. They have also invested around £5,000 in special allergy-free carpets and even grass. Unlike other toddlers, Imogen cannot go to nursery, because it would be too dangerous, and she will have to be home-schooled when she is older.

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