Health · Healthcare & Policy · 10 hrs ago
Welsh shop owner survives sepsis and rare heart condition after toothache
Danny Ellis, a 42-year-old shop owner from Llanrwst in Wales, became critically ill after weeks of tooth pain.
His dentist gave him antibiotics, but the pain kept returning and he grew weaker as red marks appeared on his body.
Doctors found endocarditis, an infection-related inflammation of the heart lining, as well as sepsis and damage to a heart valve.
The infection may have entered his blood through his mouth and travelled to his heart.
An operation failed at first, and after several strokes doctors gave him a 1% chance of survival.
Ellis pulled through, but still has weakness on his left side, fatigue and trouble finding words.
He expects at least 12 more months of recovery and may need medication for life.
Danny Ellis, a 42-year-old shop owner from Llanrwst, developed sepsis and a rare heart condition after toothache.
Doctors found a hole in his mitral valve and diagnosed him with endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart’s inner lining.
After an initial heart operation failed and he suffered several strokes, doctors believed he had a 1% chance of survival.
Ellis survived, but said his recovery would continue for at least another 12 months and he would likely need medication for the rest of his life.
He said he was able to take his daughter to school, though he still felt different on his left side and tired easily.
- Who
- Danny Ellis, a 42-year-old shop owner from Llanrwst.
- What
- He survived sepsis and endocarditis after toothache, despite a 1% chance of survival.
- When
- He began experiencing tooth pain in April. He went to hospital on 23 June.
- Where
- Llanrwst and Betws-y-Coed in Conwy county; he was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
- Why
- Doctors said endocarditis is usually caused by an infection; the article says bacteria or fungus can enter the blood through the mouth or skin and travel to the heart.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ellis began experiencing tooth pain and went to a dentist, who gave him antibiotics.
On Father's Day, Ellis felt out of it and could not remember what presents he had received.
Ellis went to a GP surgery with his wife and was taken by ambulance to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
- Age
- 42
- Home
- Llanrwst, Conwy county
- Hospital
- Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor
- Survival chance
- Doctors believed he had a 1% chance of survival
- Recovery
- At least another 12 months
What people are saying
It's a miracle that I'm still here
At the moment, I'm able to take my daughter to school, and that's enough for now
The marks on my hands had turned from red to black – the sepsis was killing me