Mosquito Bite Leads to Near-Fatal Sepsis for Businesswoman

A seemingly harmless insect bite triggered a cascade of life-threatening conditions.

For **Sharon Bannerton**, a simple mosquito bite spiraled into a harrowing health crisis, nearly claiming her life and requiring a full year to recover. The PR executive’s ordeal underscores the potential dangers lurking even in the smallest of encounters.

Initial Symptoms and Rapid Decline

**Bannerton**, who had recently moved to Dubai, initially dismissed the mosquito bite. However, after swimming in a pool, she developed flu-like symptoms that rapidly worsened. “I had got a mosquito bite and thought nothing of it, I had scratched it, so it was open, and it hadn’t healed. And then a few days later, I went swimming in a pool with my friend. It appears that when we were there, I got E. coli, unbeknownst to me.” she told EVOKE.

Upon returning to Dublin, **Bannerton**’s condition deteriorated, leading to vomiting and severe chills. Her friend, **Noelle**, recognized the severity of the situation and rushed her to the hospital, where doctors determined she was just an hour from death.

Sepsis and Organ Failure

At the hospital, **Bannerton**’s condition worsened after a reaction to penicillin, which was initially administered to treat a presumed infection. She then developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s overwhelming response to an infection, leading to organ failure.

“They treated me with penicillin initially, but I had a really bad reaction to that. At that stage, no one thought of sepsis…But when they gave me penicillin, thinking that was for the fever and for treating whatever infection I had, I ended up swelling in a terrible situation. Then all of a sudden, all the organs started failing,” **Bannerton** recounted.

She subsequently suffered a seizure and contracted double pneumonia, spending two weeks in isolation while her body fought the infections. According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, sepsis affects 1.7 million adults in America each year, and nearly 270,000 Americans die as a result (NIGMS).

A Year of Recovery

The businesswoman emphasizes that she is only just beginning to feel recovered a year after the incident. She posted online: “A year ago today, I was an hour from dying all because of one mosquito bite, which led to sepsis, a seizure, double pneumonia, and blood poisoning.”

“As the weeks and months passed, I still wasn’t right. Sleep was my only survival. The gym was a memory. My lungs were shot. I felt like a ghost, faking normal.” she said, describing the long road to recovery.

Lessons Learned

**Bannerton** now urges others to take insect bites and any unusual symptoms seriously, advising prompt medical attention if concerns arise. “If I could give one piece of advice, it’s this: don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you. No deadline, no to-do list, is worth risking your health. If something feels wrong, get it checked. Speak up. Take the time. You matter more than whatever it is you think you can’t wait,” she stated.

She also expressed gratitude to her friend **Noelle**, whose quick action saved her life. “Earlier that day, my friend @nmnoellemccarthy saved my life. She didn’t buy my “I’m fine” act. She threw me in the car and drove to the hospital. If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here, and that’s a fact.”

For further details on insect bites and related health concerns, resources are available from the Health Service Executive (HSE).