A mum fears her 12-year-old son could be scarred for life after he suffered burns from a giant hogweed plant. Kimberley Walker said she was initially told her son had received a nettle sting, but the burn got worse and worse.
Now, he is under the treatment of a plastic surgeon and Kimberley is speaking out about the dangers of the plant. Giant hogweed poses a serious risk to people who are unaware of its potential for harm.
The Royal Horticultural Society warns: "Although an impressive sight when fully grown, giant hogweed is invasive and potentially harmful. Chemicals in the sap can cause photodermatitis or photosensitivity, where the skin becomes very sensitive to sunlight and may suffer blistering, pigmentation and long-lasting scars."
Kimberley believes her 12-year-old son came into contact with the toxic plant outside St Edward's Church of England Academy, in Leek, after he was allowed to leave the school grounds to retrieve a football, StokeonTrentLive reports. He was initially blissfully unaware until he woke up the next day to find a burn on his hand.
Mum Kimberley took her son to A&E, but says she was told at first that the burn was due to a 'nettle sting'. However, three more burns have since appeared on her son's face and he is now seeing a plastic surgeon at the Royal Stoke University Hospital
The 48-year-old, from Leek, said: "My son came home from school about seven weeks ago with a mark on his hand which looked like a burn from an oven. I asked him what it was, but he didn't know how he'd done it.
"I took him to A&E and they said he'd got a nettle sting. But I didn't understand how he could burn his hand from a nettle.
"We've been treating that ever since and he still has a scar on his hand now. Then, last Thursday, he went to bed and when he got up on Friday morning there were two burns on his cheek.
"I asked what he'd been doing, but he didn't know what was causing them. He went to school and then at 11am I had a phone call from school saying the burns had doubled in size."
Kimberley took her son to see his GP where he had a 45-minute consultation. She then received a phone call that evening telling her to take him to the Royal Stoke as the Giant Hogweed burns 'can scar and cause blindness'.
She added: "I had a phone call from the doctor. He said he had spoken to a colleague at the Royal Stoke who works in plastic surgery and that the burns can scar and cause blindness.
"We went to see the plastic surgeon last Tuesday and he thinks that one of the burns will heal, but another one is deeper. He dressed the burns and gave us an ointment to put on twice a day and we've got to go back this week.
"Then last Wednesday, I had another phone call from school saying that my son had some redness under his eye. We got up the next morning and there was another burn, right under his eye.
"We've now got to wait until we see the plastic surgeon this week. They don't know whether he'll be permanently scarred.
"He's got to keep the burns covered up when he's outside as they're photo-sensitive and can keep developing."
Kimberley says she was 'shocked' to discover that a Giant Hogweed had caused the injuries as she'd never heard of the plant. It has been described as 'Britain's most dangerous plant'.
She added: "I was just shocked because I'd never even heard of it and I didn't think a weed could burn. I didn't realise a plant could cause so much damage.
"I was also upset because his hand is one thing, and it's still scarred seven weeks later, but the other burns are on his face. They are a different ball game and we don't know if he'll be scarred or for how long.
"I'm trying to raise awareness because nobody seems to know what it is."
Kimberley says she has reported the Giant Hogweed to both the school and Staffordshire County Council. She says the school is no longer allowing children to leave the school grounds to retrieve footballs.
Kimberley added: "My son plays football on the school playground. The teachers had been opening the gate to let the kids get the ball when it got kicked out.
"But, unbeknown to them, that's where the Giant Hogweed is. When my son has gone to pick up the football, he's brushed the leaves on his cheek and on the back of his hand. It has been identified it as Giant Hogweed. They keep the gate shut now."
StokeonTrentLive has approached St Edward's Church of England Academy and Staffordshire County Council for statements regarding the incident.
What is Giant hogweed
Giant hogweed , or Heracleum mantegazzianum, is a weed which has dangerous effects on human health. Growing up to five metres tall, its sap contains toxic chemicals which react with light when in contact with human skin, causing blistering within 48 hours. It is found in most of the UK, along footpaths and riverbanks though it also grows in places like parks, cemeteries and wasteland.
Effectively it prevents the skin from protecting itself from sunlight, which can lead to very bad sunburn and scarring. The blisters will form within 48 hours - scars can last for years.
What does giant hogweed look like?
It's actually pretty and looks a bit like cow parsley. It's got green stem spotted with dark red which varies from 3–8 cm in diameter. Each dark red spot on the stem surrounds a hair, and large, coarse white hairs occur at the base of the leaf stalk.
It produces white flowers clustered in an umbrella-shaped head that is up to 80 cm in diameter across its flat top.
What should I do if I come into contact with giant hogweed?
Medical professionals say you should cover the affected area, and wash it with soap and water.
The blisters heal very slowly and can develop into phytophotodermatitis, a type of skin rash which flares up in sunlight.
If you feel unwell or have a severe reaction you are advised to see a doctor.
