UPDATE: Johnny Depp's daughter had E. Coli infection

As we reported earlier this month, Johnny Depp’s 7 year old daughter, Lily Depp, was hospitalized for nine days, after coming down with a ‘mystery illness.’ It is now revealed that the mystery illness was in fact an E. coli infection. E.coli is a type of food poisoning that is commonly caused by improperly cooked meat, unpasteurized milk or water contamination. It is a bacteria which normally lives inside the intestines where it helps break down and digest food. But certain strains can get into the blood causing a rare but very serious infection. A source close to Johnny said:

Everyone gasped when we were given the real reason for her illness. It was touch and go for a while.

This has of course shaken up what appears to be a very close family. It was reported that Johnny and Lily’s mother, Vanessa Paradis, held a bedside vigil for their daughter in the hospital. He has spoken in the past about what it means to him to be a father:

I just want to watch my kids grow up and make sure they’re healthy and happy, they are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I never thought it was possible to feel such profound, deep love. Being a dad has given me great strength, great perspective, great calm. More than anything – I love being with my family.

Filming will resume next week for Johnny’s latest movie Sweeney Todd.

Source: Daily Mail, Female First

Thanks to CBB readers Mary Beth, Corinne and Daisy.

Do you know anyone who contracted E. coli?

Comments

CC on March 24th, 2007

E. Coli is not a virus, it’s a bacteria.

Shan on March 24th, 2007

I had a classmate in high school that had a really bad case of E. Coli. He was in the hospital for weeks and was unable to eat regularly for months after and he lost a lot of weight. His case was severe, but I cant imagine a little child having to deal with it.

Viv on March 24th, 2007

There was a breakout near where I live last year, when about 20 schools had to close because a number of children developed symptoms of E. Coli poisoning. A 5 year-old boy died, and loads of other children were terribly ill for weeks, in intensive care.
It turned out that meat supplied to the company that distributed school dinners to the entire area was contaminated.

lorien on March 24th, 2007

It is my understanding that most e.coli is actually transmitted by improper hand washing. It is VERY rare to get e.coli from unpasteurized dairy, and the reason people get it from improperly cooked meat is that most meat comes from slaughterhouses where meat and cow poop are mixed together. Know where your food comes from, don’t just assume it’s safe because it has a USDA sticker on it.

Lorus on March 24th, 2007

There was a small outbreak around where I live. It came from children not washing their hands properly after visiting a local farm (kind of like a petting zoo). It was all over the media and signs went up at the farm to make sure the parents knew how dangerous it was to skip the hand washing area.

meglet on March 24th, 2007

I was sick with E. coli when I was 20 months old. There are several strains of E. coli, just as with all types of bacteria. The strain of bacteria will determine the type and severity of infection. The type of E. coli that typically creates serious outbreaks associated with contaminated beef and drinking water is E. coli O157:H7.

When I was sick (back in 1981) this strain of E. coli was just about to be discovered and symptoms from E. coli sickness were not well known or recognized. My parents spent many sleepless days and nights in Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto with me while I was sick. I believe that I was in the hospital for two weeks, and required a blood transfusion, but fortunately did not require dialysis or a kidney transplant. E. coli O157:H7 typically affects the kidneys – I am not sure which strain would cause a blood infection. Presently, after several high-profile outbreaks of E. coli around North America, I am sure that most emergency room staff would quickly recognize that bloody diarrhea = possible E. coli infection.

I am now an environmental engineer with an interest in drinking water treatment. I have been quite fortunate in that I have not experienced any further ill affects (to this point) in terms of my health. I travelled to India a couple years ago and came down with the typical “Dehli belly” and probably shouldn’t have told my parents – I think it took them straight back to that long and scary ambulance ride to the hospital!

stephanie on March 24th, 2007

This is just my opinion, but I don’t think this should be discussed since the family has requested the media not to publish the cause of the illness. If CBB is not publishing pictures where the parents or children looked uncomfortable, information should be treated the same way too, especially for something this serious.

Mariana on March 25th, 2007

I love how Johnny Depp is in love with his kids.

This quote of his always makes me warm and fuzzy inside:

“Anything I’ve done up till 27 May, 1999 was kind of an illusion, existing without living. My daughter, the birth of my daughter, gave me life.”

Cher g on March 26th, 2007

My son contracted ecoli from the water at school in southeastern ontario. He was laid up in the hospital for almost 7 months – he needed blood transfusions – plasma transfusion – dialysis. it has been 4 years since the ecoli contamination and his kidneys are still deteriating. He is on meds for high blood pressure – kidney function – and to help his heart. Ecoli is a very dangerous virus.

Crystal Bailey on March 28th, 2007

In April of o5 my four tear old was admitted into ICU with e-coli. She ten developed hemalytic uremic syndrome. Her kidneys shut down and she was on dialysis. Her blood pressure would drop to 45/40 so they had her on 3 different blood pressure meds. She lost her ability to speak for 4 weeks and her ability to see for 2 weeks. her body temp. would drop to 94.7 so they had to keep heat lamps on her. Her pancreas shut down so she was on a insulin drip. Her bowel perforated and they had to remove 75% on her colon and she had a colostomy bag for 3 months. She had at least 10 blood transfusion and she was on ventalator because her lungs started closing. We were in Childrens Hospial for three months the first time then we were in there two weeks for the colostomy takedown. It has been almost two years yet it feels like it was yesterday. They think in about 7-10 years she’ll need a kidney transplant. she has sores on her brain that causes her to have severe migraines and petty mall seizers. She’s on insulin but her spirits are good. The renal doctor told me on the day we were released that she was the worst case he had ever seen and he didn’t think she would make it the first week. When I heard about Johnny’s little girl I wept for him. My prayers and thoughts are with him and his family.

Melissa Herzog on March 28th, 2007

My daugher (10) contracted the E-COLI virus which let to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) from drinking raw (unpasteurized milk) It is NOT rare to get this from milk. Raw milk is extremeely dangerous for children.

Im wondering what Johnny Depp’s daughter ate. It would be interesting to hear the reports on her. Im glad she is doing well because my daughter almost died and she stayed in the hospital for nearly 2 months. This is a scary, unpredictable disease.

My heart goes out to Johhny and his family.

PJ on April 24th, 2007

Not a virus–definitely a bacterium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli

trust the wiki

nikki bruno on May 13th, 2007

I’m 17, I actually contracted E. Coli this past October (in 2006) from water in a local river. I read some of these stories and I realize I didn’t have it as bad as I may have thought. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and on dialysis for 5. I had 4 blood transfusions and blood pressure issues. I’m on some medication to keep my kidneys from scarring now, and I’ll probably need a transplant by the time I’m 40. Which isn’t too bad of an outcome compared to some others. Besides… by the time I’m 40 they’ll probably have a pill I can take to grow new ones…

anna on June 8th, 2007

how sad i am really glad that she is feeling better and she has a great father and she is really pretty just like her dad and i am glad she is alive

Larissa on December 12th, 2007

I think Lily had the exact same thing that I had this past summer. I got E. Coli and went to the hospital where they found out I had E. Coli. After being admitted it was confirmed that I had Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) and I was in complete kidney failure along with fluid in my lungs, a heart murmur, panchreatitis, and more. I am 14, and I was told that it is extremely rare for smeone as old as me to get HUS, and most patients were under 10. I was transferred to a more advanced hospital by ambulance to undergo dialysis, blood transfusions, and more during my two week stay. I wasn’t given much chance of survival, but luckily, I’m still here today with no complications. To this day, we have never found out where I got the E. Coli from. Does anyone know if what Lily had was Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome also? I’m glad she was as lucky as I was and has recovered!

mint on June 2nd, 2008

i love Depp so much