These are the faces of two of Britain’s youngest coronavirus victims, who have battled the deadly disease at only a few weeks old.
Mason Atton, from Chesterfield in Derbyshire, was just six weeks when he developed a 39-degree temperature and screamed for ‘hours on end’ in front of his helpless parents.
Ava da Silva Jules, from Islington, north London, was only seven weeks old when she too developed a high temperature, stopped taking her milk and started wheezing.
Both were rushed to hospital last month where specialists struggled to work out how best to help them, but have since recovered.
Mason Atton was just six weeks old when he developed a 39-degree temperature and screamed for ‘hours on end’ in front of his helpless parents
Ava da Silva Jules, from Islington, north London, was only seven weeks old when she too developed a high temperature, stopped taking her milk and started wheezing
Both were rushed to hospital where specialists struggled to work out how best to help them. Pictured: Ava with her father Ashleigh in hospital
Cruelly, Ava’s (pictured above) mother could not be with her as she was self-isolating with a persistent cough. Fortunately both babies are now on the road to recovery
Cruelly, Ava’s mother could not be with her as she was self-isolating with a persistent cough. Fortunately both babies are now on the road to recovery.
The stricken pair are among a growing number of babies across the country who have contracted the potentially deadly virus.
Today their parents urged others to monitor their young children for any signs of the deadly virus and warned it does not just affect the old and the vulnerable.
Mason’s father Shaun Atton told MailOnline: ‘Don’t listen to anyone who says that coronavirus can only affect adults, it can infect babies too.
‘Ring 111 and ask for help.’
Mr Atton said when their son felt poorly they assumed he had a normal childhood fever but decided to double check with the doctors.
‘Mason had a high temperature and was not taking his milk so we called 111 and asked for help,’ he told MailOnline.
‘They advised us to take him to hospital because we could not get his temperature down.
Today their parents urged others to monitor their young children for any signs of the deadly virus and warned it does not just affect the old and the vulnerable
Mr Atton said when their son felt poorly they assumed he had a normal childhood fever but decided to double check with the doctors. After he was diagnosed Covid-19 doctors warned his mottled skin could stay for six weeks (above)
Upon hearing Mason (pictured before he fell ill) had coronavirus, Mt Atton said: ‘It was such a shock. Then Mason got a really high temperature – 39 degrees Centigrade – and he was screaming for hours on end’
As there is no treatment for Covid-19, Mason was given paracetamol to bring the temperature down and kept in overnight at Chesterfield Royal Hospital until he felt better. Pictured with mum Danielle
They took him to Chesterfield Royal Hospital where the doctor said he had suspected bronchitis.
‘They tested him for Covid-19 as well and Mason was released from hospital the following day.’
It was only when they got home that they received a call from the pediatrician to tell them he had tested positive for Covid-19.
‘It was such a shock,’ he said. ‘Then Mason got a really high temperature – 39 degrees Centigrade – and he was screaming for hours on end.
‘We took him back to hospital but the pediatrician had to take advice from other doctors about how to treat him because the disease is so new.’
As there is no treatment for Covid-19, Mason was given paracetamol to bring the temperature down and kept in overnight again until he felt better.
The hospital pediatrician said although the symptoms of the virus would last just a few days side effects such as mottled skin could last for up to six weeks.
Mr Atton, 35, a vehicle fleet manager, added: ‘About a week before Mason fell ill I came back from London with a high temperature and a cough so I think I brought the virus into the house.
‘I feel really guilty that I infected Mason and my partner Danielle.’
New mother Vania da Silva described how heartbroken she was at not being able to support Ava as she was admitted into University London College Hospital
Ava was wheezing and not breathing properly, her mother said. Her temperature kept going up and reached 38.2 degrees centigrade
Little Ava was seven weeks old when she started becoming listless a couple of days after mother Vania developed a persistent cough. She tested positive in hospital (above)
Ms da Silva told MailOnline: ‘When they decided to take Ava (pictured before falling ill) to hospital I was not allowed to go with her because I had symptoms – only her dad, my partner Ashleigh – could go’
New mother Vania da Silva described how heartbroken she was at not being able to support Ava as she was admitted into University London College Hospital.
Ms da Silva told MailOnline: ‘Not being able to be with my daughter when she went into hospital was the worst time of my life.
‘I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, I was so worried. I have never cried so much.’
Little Ava was seven weeks old when she started becoming listless a couple of days after mother Vania developed a persistent cough.
‘Ava was wheezing and not breathing properly. Her temperature kept going up and reached 38.2 degrees centigrade.
‘I called 111 and it took about four hours for an ambulance to arrive.
‘When I told the paramedics I had [Covid-19] symptoms they put on all their protective equipment to examine Ava.
‘And when they decided to take her to hospital I was not allowed to go with her because I had symptoms – only her dad, my partner Ashleigh – could go.
‘The doctor thought she might have viral meningitis but she was tested for the virus as well.
Ava (pictured after her illness) was kept for two nights and then released. Both babies are expected to make full recoveries.
Mason’s (pictured before getting ill) father Shaun Atton told MailOnline: ‘Don’t listen to anyone who says that coronavirus can only affect adults, it can infect babies too’
‘They were put in their own room and the nurse wore all the protective equipment when they came in the room.
‘The test was positive and my partner Ashleigh broke down in tears when he told me on the phone.
‘I was devastated, especially because I could not be with her.’
Ava was kept in for two nights and released the next day.
‘People say that babies cannot catch the virus but clearly they can,’ Ms da Silva added. ‘People don’t realise how serious this is.’