17-month-old girl dies of influenza A-associated brain inflammation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
DANNY.MOK@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Monday, 16 May, 2016, 12:25pm
A spokesman for Queen Elizabeth Hospital said the flu test for Charlotte had been conducted in accordance with the Hospital Authority’s guidance. Photo: May Tse
The parents of a 17-month-old girl who died of a flu-related complication have accused a public hospital of delaying a flu diagnostic test and treatments – the second complaint of this kind in two days.
They told the media that their daughter Charlotte had a fever due to influenza A on February 9 when they took her to Baptist Hospital and were prescribed an antipyretic.
The parents wanted her to be admitted, but there were no beds available. They went home after failing to find a bed in all public and private hospitals citywide.
The next day, Charlotte’s fever escalated. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei by ambulance and was admitted.
Her parents said the results of a rapid flu test did not come until 26 hours later, and she was prescribed Tamiflu.
But her condition deteriorated, and she was sent to the paediatric intensive care unit that night.
Parents of six-year-old Billy Ho were told flu care was not available during the night. Photo: SCMP Pictures
She died of influenza A-associated brain inflammation on February 23.
Charlotte’s parents said they originally had no plan to pursue and publicise the case, but decided to do so after hearing of a similar case over the weekend involving six-year-old Billy Ho, who died of influenza A-associated brain inflammation on April 22.
Billy’s parents alleged that the boy had been deprived of Tamiflu treatment until 12 hours after admission to Yan Chai Hospital on April 10, despite symptoms of high fever and seizures.
They said they were told flu care was not available during the night.
The coroner will investigate Billy’s death.
Charlotte’s father said his daughter could have been saved if the rapid test had been conducted immediately so that the results had come earlier followed by the prescription of Tamiflu.
The parents said went to the press about the case because they did not want to see other children end up in a similar situation.
A spokesman for Queen Elizabeth Hospital said on Sunday that it had conducted the flu test for Charlotte in accordance with the Hospital Authority’s guidance, and the result came within 24 hours. It was saddened by her death.
In a response to Billy’s case, Hospital Authority chief Dr Leung Pak-yin said on Sunday that discussions would be held over possible improvements to a mechanism for conducting rapid flu tests.
He said the authority would conduct an internal review following the coroner’s inquest.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1945578/flu-death-second-such-complaint-two-days-toddlers
