A US teen ate leftover noodles and rice. Hours later, doctors amputated his legs and fingers
- Teen fell ill with potentially deadly infection after eating leftover takeaway food
- Rare case was detailed in a report by the The New England Journal of Medicine
Hours after eating leftovers from a restaurant, a 19-year-old was admitted to the hospital with multiple organ failure and later had both his legs and all his fingers amputated.
The Massachusetts college student had eaten rice, chicken and lo mein from a restaurant. Soon after, he felt abdominal pain and his skin turned a shade of purple, according to a report by The New England Journal of Medicine.
The teenager was admitted to a hospital for “shock, multiple organ failure and rash”, and his condition quickly deteriorated. He experienced abnormal breathing, high blood pressure and vomiting. The student had been healthy overall with regular drinking and smoking habits, the report said.
After further tests, he was diagnosed with meningococcal purpura fulminan disease, which caused his stiff neck, nausea, respiratory collapse, shock and organ failure, according to the report. Purpura fulminan is a rare complication that comes with septic shock, which the college student experienced, according to the report.
The condition is caused by bacteria and brings symptoms such as sudden fever and vomiting. The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention warns it can “lead to death in as little as a few hours”.