- Former teacher Hannah Evans has mast cell activation disorder (MCAD)
- It means her body’s immune system is severely impaired leaving her vulnerable
- Was once left battling for her life with pneumonia, which then turned into sepsis
- Mask draws comments from strangers who fear she has a contagious disease
- Raising awareness of condition and urging people to be more hygienic
Claudia Tanner For Mailonline
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A former teacher is forced to wear a face mask every time she leaves the house – because the germs in the air could kill her.
Hannah Evans, 27, takes a staggering 100 tablets a day to combat three rare conditions which leave her effectively without an immune system.
One of the conditions – called mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) – leaves her so vulnerable that being exposed to someone sneezing could kill her. She also Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and postural tachycardia syndrome.
Her illnesses have left her battling for her life with pneumonia, which then turned into sepsis, which can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
Hannah now wears a personal white face mask covered in diamantes every time she leaves the house – which she says draws negative comments from strangers who fear she has a contagious disease.
Former teacher Hannah Evans wears a mask everywhere as she could die from germs in the air
The 27-year-old, from South Wales, suffers from mass cell activation disorder (MCAD) which weakens her immune system
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The newlywed, of Neath, South Wales, said: ‘For years, I was too embarrassed to wear a mask.
‘I started wearing my mask every time I go out about six months ago.
‘I’ve only ever had one negative comment from somebody saying I shouldn’t be out if I’ve got germs that people can catch.
‘But the mask is for my safety. You can’t catch my condition.’
Hannah’s mask drawers comments from strangers who fear she has a contagious disease
She was once left battling for her life with pneumonia, which then turned into sepsis
WHAT IS MCAD?
Mast cells, a type of blood cell, play an important role in the body’s defence system.
In a healthy person, these cells release chemical mediators, such as histamine, in reaction to foreign bodies, but in a person with MCAS this function is impaired.
Amongst the triggers are a variety of different foods, exercise, chemicals, fragrances and stress.
Many sufferers struggle to identify their triggers.
MCAS can present simultaneously in patients who have Ehlers Danlos syndrome and/or postural tachycardia syndrome.
The available treatments for MCAS stabilise the mast cells and mitigate the effects of the chemicals they release, e.g. anti-histamines.
Avoiding triggers is also a key part in coping with this illness.
Intensive care
Hannah’s other conditions include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which makes her body’s connective tissues collapse and can leave sufferers in constant pain.
She also has postural tachycardia syndrome, which causes an abnormal increase in heart rate after sitting up or standing.
It typically causes dizziness, fainting and other symptoms.
To cope with a host of symptoms she has up to 16 IV injections and 16 different painkillers every day.
Hanna said: ‘I’ve had a nose bleed before, which has turned into double pneumonia, which then turned into sepsis.
‘I was in intensive care for four-and-a-half months.’
Now Hannah wants to raise awareness of the MCAD and is urging people to be more hygienic – warning that someone or coughing or sneezing on her could have deadly consequences.
She is raising awareness of her condition and urging people to be more hygienic
Because of her conditions the cold and flu season leaves her very afraid
Hannah takes a staggering 100 tablets a day to combat her three illnesses
She said: ‘Someone could sneeze in their hands and then open a door and I could have touched that door.
‘Somebody could be coughing next to me, and they might have a virus that’s only giving them a tickly cough.
‘That virus will end up putting me in intensive care. That’s how extreme it is. ‘
Hannah is now hoping to get through the winter without having to visit hospital.
She added: ‘Every year since I was a little girl I would end up in hospital. Hopefully this year will be different.’
WHAT IS EDS?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is the name for a group of rare inherited conditions that affect the connective tissue.
Connective tissues provide support in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones.
Different types of EDS are caused by faults in certain genes that make connective tissue weaker.
Depending on the type of EDS, the faulty gene may have been inherited from one paren, or both.
Sometimes the faulty gene isn’t inherited, but occurs spontaneously.
EDS can affect people in different ways. For some the condition is relatively mild, while for others their symptoms can be disabling.
Some of the rare severe types can even be life-threatening.
Source: NHS Choices
WHAT IS POTS?
Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is an abnormal increase in heart rate that occurs after sitting up or standing.
It typically causes dizziness, fainting and other symptoms.
PoTS is most common in girls and women aged 15 to 50.
Some people have mild symptoms, while others find the condition affects their quality of life.
In many cases, the cause is unknown. Teenagers can develop PoTS and find it gradually disappears a few years later.
It can develop suddenly after a viral illness or traumatic event, or during or after pregnancy.
PoTS often improves gradually over time, and there are a number of self-care measures and medications that can help.
Source: NHS Choices
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