In February 2011, Madi Allen, a healthy 12-year-old in Central Illinois, who loved playing sports, almost died from the flu. The influenza B virus resulted in her developing necrotizing pneumonia, where the infection triggers inflammation that destroys the tissue of the lungs, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and her kidneys shut down. She was put on life support and dialysis, and was intubated for five weeks. She spent another two months in hospital and a decade recovering from the damage caused.
Allen, now 28, shared her experience with Live Science.
I was 12 years old when it all started. I was just a normal seventh grader, I played soccer and basketball. I didn't really have any health issues beforehand — just sports-induced asthma.
That weekend, I started to feel a little sick, but nothing too bad. My mom kept giving me over-the-counter medicine and it would work for a bit, then once it wore off, it would get really bad. I'd planned to go to one of my friend's birthday parties then spend the night with my best friend. I went to the party, but I texted my mom saying I should come home because I really wasn't feeling well, which was not usual ...
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