Deceased
Child WK
Demographics
0y, male
Coroner
Acting State Coroner Linton
Date of death
2022-09-04
Finding date
2025-11-05
Cause of death
Streptococcus pyogenes and parechovirus infection
AI-generated summary
An eight-month-old boy in state care died from Streptococcus pyogenes and parechovirus infection. He presented to hospital twice before death with fever and ear infection symptoms. On first presentation (2 September), he was assessed as having likely viral otitis media with normal observations; discharge was appropriate. On second presentation (4 September morning), observations were mildly abnormal but improved with paracetamol; oral antibiotics were started. He was discharged home with safety-netting for return if worse. He deteriorated rapidly that evening and presented in cardiac arrest, resuscitation efforts unsuccessful. The coroner found no clinical failings: sepsis recognition is genuinely difficult in young children who may compensate well until sudden collapse; the presentations lacked fever and classic septic signs; the prescribed antibiotic was appropriate; and imaging/transfer were not indicated at the time. The rapid deterioration characteristic of invasive Group A Strep in young infants occurred between discharge and readmission.
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Specialties
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
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