A four-year-old boy from Verulam, outside Durban, died last week hours after being treated for a cough, said his mother, who is waiting for post-mortem results before she decides whether or not to pursue a case of medical negligence, reports THE POST.
Nerissa Rosendaw (35), said her son Altaio ‘Tuti’ Jordan had recovered from flu-like symptoms he had been experiencing for a fortnight, but when his cough persisted, she took him to their family doctor last Wednesday.
“The doctor said he was suffering from a bronchospasm attack. We did not think it was serious as he had recovered from the flu and was energetic.
“He was helping his dad and uncle in the garden in the morning, and had walked unaided into the doctor’s surgery.”
She said the doctor gave Altaio two injections and nebulised him.
“We then went home, but in the car, he appeared weak and drowsy. We got home at around 11.30. When he did not wake up by 2pm, I messaged the doctor and he said we should let him rest,” his mother said.
“He was restless in his sleep, hallucinating and screaming. A few times, he screamed out for his older brother Liam (7).”
She said that at about 5pm, the little boy’s body began jerking. She quickly picked him up but by then, his eyes were rolling back.
Her brother, Prevlin Govender, administered CPR on Altaio “but there was fluid coming out of his mouth”, recalled his mother.
“We then rushed him to Reaction Unit South Africa’s offices but paramedics declared him dead on arrival.
Last week, Sydenham mother Carla Bowes, whose eight-year-old son Liam died after contracting flu, urged parents to be extra vigilant and to not take mild symptoms lightly.
She said Liam had first developed a high temperature before his symptoms progressed to coughing, vomiting and diarrhoea.
“I took him to King Dinuzulu Hospital on 5 June but the doctor – who did not listen to his chest or examine him physically – told me to take him to the clinic as they do not treat flu cases.”
Bowes said she took him to a general practitioner instead, so that his treatment could be fast-tracked. “But he was not getting better and on the third visit to the doctor, he gave us a referral form to go to King Dinuzulu Hospital.”
Liam was admitted to King Dinuzulu Hospital on the Saturday, and the next day, his condition had deteriorated and he was diagnosed with pneumonia.
“He transferred to King Edward Hospital in an ambulance, where doctors told us he had water in his lungs and that his kidneys were failing. He was breathing with an oxygen bag and his blood pressure had shot up.
“He had also picked up a viral infection. More tests were done and they said he needed a blood transfusion, but he died on Wednesday, before he could get the transfusion and before we got the results of what the viral infection could be.”
Dr Ashendri Pillay, Head of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital’s Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, said respiratory viruses currently circulating in Durban include flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2.
“We have noticed an overlap of symptoms – including fever, nasal congestion, cough, and sneezing – between influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2.
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