A British mother, Sofia, says 'every day is frightening and uncertain' as her critically ill baby remains in a Hong Kong hospital. Matthew Lee, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was nine months old when he contracted influenza A while visiting family in July.

Matthew suffered three cardiac arrests, and his brain was reportedly deprived of oxygen for 48 minutes. He was left unconscious and on a ventilator and remains critically ill after more than three months in hospital.

Healthy Baby Became Critically Ill

Charlotte Young, chief operating officer of Lia's Wings, said that without a move to the UK, Matthew's medical decline would happen over a period of time. 'It was an influenza infection, it wasn't a wild accident.'

For Sofia, the only hope is returning Matthew to the UK, where he can be reunited with his father and receive the ongoing specialist care he needs. The family left on holiday with a healthy son, and being at his bedside is what keeps her going.

Barriers to a Medical Flight

Lia's Wings said commercial airlines are not equipped to carry children in Matthew's condition and have deemed him too high-risk to fly. A dedicated air ambulance is an option but is prohibitively expensive.

The charity is looking at a private aircraft with a medical team on standby. It is appealing to the aviation industry for a donated private jet, which could greatly reduce the price. It does not ask for help unless it is life or death.

The family's holiday insurance reportedly did not cover medical flights and was not comprehensive enough for this type of scenario. The charity is trying to raise £200,000 to fly Sofia and Matthew home, though costs have been reported as high as £250,000.

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Flu Season Warning in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said the city entered its influenza season in late June and that activity shows signs of decline but remains above baseline. Matthew fell ill in July, during that season.

As of 2 November, 29 severe paediatric influenza cases had been recorded this season. Twenty children had recovered and been discharged, two were in stable condition, one was seriously ill, four were in critical condition and two had died, according to the CHP.

Analysis of the previous year's data found unvaccinated children with influenza had about five times the rate of severe complications or death seen in vaccinated children. Vaccination is urged for people aged six months or older without known contraindications.

A child's condition can deteriorate rapidly, and parents are urged to seek emergency care for shortness of breath, blue lips, chest pain, confusion or convulsions. Children under five are listed among those at high risk of serious illness from influenza.

Heart Complications Linked to Influenza

A systematic review of 36 cases in published case reports found myocarditis was the most common cardiac manifestation of influenza, appearing in 19 cases. Fulminant myocarditis accounted for nine cases, and cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death for six.

Cardiac involvement occurred across all age groups, frequently in patients without pre-existing coronary artery disease. Many cases began with typical flu symptoms before deteriorating rapidly.

Influenza A was reported in 26 of the cases and influenza B in nine. Sixteen of the 36 patients died, though the findings reflect severe published cases and may not represent the full clinical spectrum.

The authors cautioned that case reports carry publication bias and cannot show how often influenza causes cardiac complications. They described the findings as hypothesis-generating and said causation cannot be inferred.

The review did not involve Matthew, and neither the cause of his cardiac arrests nor his vaccination status has been stated. For now, he remains in hospital in Hong Kong while the charity works to arrange his journey home.

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