What was meant to be a peaceful family holiday turned into a harrowing medical emergency no one could have imagined. Emma Hickey, a 42-year-old mother from Dublin, Ireland, had set off with her partner and two children for a 12-day trip to Costa Adeje in Tenerife. Just ten days in, a seemingly minor inconvenience, mosquito bites, would spiral into a medical crisis that has now left her brain dead and in an induced coma.Her story is not just heartbreaking; it’s eye-opening. It reminds us how the smallest things, like a mosquito bite, can sometimes change lives forever.
The bite that changed everything
On June 23rd, while preparing to visit a local pharmacy, Emma suddenly collapsed on a hotel staircase, as per Daily Mail UK. Her partner, Stephen Brougham, recalled the terrifying moment, Emma fell head-first, didn’t even lift her hands to break the fall, and began convulsing right there on the steps.
Image: Daily Mail UK
But the real shock came moments before this accident. Ten days into their holiday, Emma had woken up with what her family described as a “really bad case” of mosquito bites. She visited the hospital and was given injections, hoping the discomfort would pass. But things didn’t get better.She remained unwell, visibly drained and in pain. Yet, like many mothers, she continued to put her children first, trying to push through the holiday for their sake.
When infection meets exhaustion
Stephen later shared that Emma hadn’t felt like herself for days. The mosquito bites were all over her body, bruised, sore, and deeply irritated. Some had even begun to bleed onto her bed sheets. Despite the discomfort, Emma never wanted to ruin the holiday mood for her children.No one expected that her feeling unwell could be linked to something as severe as a mosquito-borne infection. But doctors now believe the bites may have triggered a medical reaction, likely an infection, which, when mixed with heat, medication, and fatigue, possibly caused her to faint.
Mosquitoes become more active in some seasons and geographical locations. If one does get bitten while traveling to a tropical nation or in India during the monsoon, then one needs to be more cautious.
This is not speculation alone. According to health experts, severe allergic or infectious reactions from insect bites, though rare, can lead to complications such as encephalitis or blood pressure collapse, which in turn can result in falls or fainting episodes. The CT scan at the hospital confirmed a brain bleed and neck fractures. She underwent emergency surgery to remove blood clots from her brain and was placed in a medically induced coma.While Emma continues her fight in intensive care, her family remains stranded in Tenerife. Her partner, a self-employed plasterer, is now caring for their two children, 13-year-old Sophie and 7-year-old Bobby, while trying to manage the rising hospital expenses.
Mosquito bites are not always harmless
In tropical or warm holiday destinations, mosquito bites are often considered a common nuisance. But this case shows that they can be far more than that. Though rare, certain mosquito species can carry serious infections such as dengue, Zika virus, or even encephalitis, any of which could lead to neurological complications if not treated quickly.Doctors haven’t confirmed the exact medical condition triggered by Emma’s bites. Still, the timeline and symptoms strongly suggest that her health was impacted by the infection, leading to dizziness, collapse, and traumatic brain injury.The medical team has yet to say what long-term effects the brain pressure or surgery might have on Emma once she regains consciousness.[The above article is based on verified news coverage by Daily Mail UK. All medical interpretations are general and not diagnostic in nature.]
