Parents fear two-year-old daughter may have HIV after toddler rolls on to drug addict’s syringe in park

  • Two month wait to find out if Siann Parkinson has contracted the virus

By
Chris Richards

10:53 EST, 3 June 2012

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10:54 EST, 3 June 2012

The mother of a toddler who rolled onto a drug addict’s needle in a park is facing an agonising wait to see if her daughter has caught HIV.

Two-year-old Siann Parkinson was doing barrel rolls down a grassy slope when she landed on the discarded hypodermic syringe.

The needle pierced Siann’s right thigh, causing the youngster to scream out.

By the time mum Annabel, 25, turned round, Siann had pulled the syringe out and was holding it with blood splattered on her trousers.

Anxious wait: Annabel Parkinson will have to wait for up to two months to learn if her daughter Siann has contracted HIV

Anxious wait: Annabel Parkinson will have to wait for up to two months to learn if her daughter Siann has contracted HIV

Horrified Miss Parkinson, a hairdresser, rushed the youngster to hospital and Siann was given a Hepatitis B injection and blood tests.

They now face a distressing two-month wait until Siann can have more blood tests and injections to see if she has caught HIV from the needle.

The incident happened on a grassy embankment by the cricket pavilion in King’s Park, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Miss Parkinson said: ‘One moment Siann was playing happily, throwing a ball for Jessie, our Staffordshire terrier dog, and rolling down the embankment in the park and the next we were rushing to hospital.

Scene: King's Park in Bournemouth, where Siann Parkinson rolled onto the needle

Scene: King’s Park in Bournemouth, where Siann Parkinson rolled onto the needle

‘She shouted out and I could see the needle in her hand, I thought she had picked it up but then I noticed blood on her right thigh and realised she had pulled it out of her leg.

‘When I looked closer I could see that she had stabbed herself and also been scratched by the needle, I was horrified.

‘We were seen within five minutes in hospital.

‘Siann had a Hepatitis B injection and a blood test but we were told we would have to come back in June and July to have more injections and blood tests.

‘It’s only when they can compare the three blood tests that they can say for definite whether Siann has contracted HIV.

‘It will feel like an eternity before I know for certain whether Siann is okay.

‘The risk that she has been infected with HIV is small but it’s like there is a big, black cloud hanging over us.

‘I’ve lived here all my life, the park is on our doorstep but there’s no way I will ever take her back there.

‘It’s a public park and lots of children play there, but it is also somewhere drunks and, obviously, drug addicts congregate.

‘Something should be done to ensure that families are safe.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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Amazing how do gooding council busybodies can fine people for dropping a piece of cotton or a scrap of paper yet a child can roll on to a dumped hypo. Time they got their priorities sorted.

Her mother is a hairdresser with roots like that?? Pllleeaassseee!

PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis) will also be prescribed. This leads to a MASSIVE reduction of the chances of HIV contaction. However HIV dies quickly outside the body and needle sharing amongst drug users is done relativley quickly. Her chances of being HIV negative are high.

Why is a 2 year old having a bottle??
– sabina, lancs, 03/06/2012 17:36
Perhaps she’s hungry?
Why shouldn’t she still have the occasional bottle?
Plenty of adults still drink (booze) out of bottles, but no-one questions them.

Why is a 2 year old having a bottle??
– sabina, lancs, 03/6/2012 17:36
Whereas I agree 100% for wondering that, try to keep in mind the important aspect of the article. What is more important – whether a 2-year-old should be drinking from a bottle or the fact her life has been put in grave danger?
On another note to ALL drug users: THIS is what your selfish, pathetic acts can cause. Whoever disgarded the needle, I hope you are very proud of yourself!!!

If we could just rid the world of these low lives! Sorry to read such a painful story, I hope the news turns out for the best.

Hope the outcome is good. Councils should take notice and try better to keep places clean.

I work with NHS staff who may come into contact with needle stick injuries during the course if their work. There is a 1:300 chance of contacting HIV through a definitely infected needle. The HIV virus is 100 times weaker than hepatitis B and 10 times weaker than hepatitis C. The HIV virus dies not live well outside the body. If the needle had been there for some time that would also reduce the risk. Hepatitis C can be treated quite successfully and the child will be tested for all these viruses during her follow up. Very sad that society has come to discarded needles in public places. I wish her all the best and hope she feels reassured by the information she has been given by the professionals.

That poor little girl and her family , I really hope this has a good outcome .

I cannot imagine what this family are going through. I hope this story has a happy ending x

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