Questions have been raised as to how Warilla toddler Kody Tobler contracted swine flu while in an isolation unit at Sydney Children's Hospital.Kody's parents Justin and Kristy, who is three months pregnant, said it took the hospital almost a week to tell them their child had the illness.The 18-month-old, who has been in hospital since birth with the rare intestinal condition gastroschisis, was due to visit home for the first time on July 9.
Swine flu symptoms and facts: Who is at risk in Australia?In the lead-up to the homecoming, his parents were told Kody had influenza and was unable to make the journey.With his depleted immune system, even a common cold can put his life in danger.Mr Tobler said it wasn't until July 12 that a doctor took him aside and told him the illness was swine flu (H1N1).He said he questioned the staff on how his son could have caught the illness while in isolation but did not receive any answers."Even we don't visit Kody if we're not well because of the risks," he said.Mr Tobler said Kody was thankfully cleared of the illness last Friday."He is a tough little kid, he's a fighter," Mr Tobler said.Mr and Mrs Tobler have since also suffered from influenza, but are unsure whether it was swine flu."Wollongong Hospital no longer tests for the illness," he said."We were sent home to rest and are doing well." Mr Tobler said he would be meeting Kody's doctor on Monday to determine why the family had not been told immediately about the illness, both in the interest of Kody's health and that of his pregnant wife."This could have endangered Kody's life, and has left Kristy in a state," he said.A spokeswoman for the South Eastern Illawarra Area Health Service declined to comment. "Our area health service doesn't confirm or provide any medical details of specific patients in any of the hospitals with H1N1," she said.A total of 17 people with the swine flu have now died in NSW.
