Home / Health / Doctor Forgot Rash: Boy Dies of Strep A
Doctor Forgot Rash: Boy Dies of Strep A
9 Jun
Summary
- Doctor admitted forgetting to check for a reported rash.
- Boy died from a streptococcus A infection.
- Inquest heard the child was sent home from hospital.
An inquest has heard that a hospital doctor forgot to examine a five-year-old boy for a reported red rash, a potential indicator of serious infection. The child subsequently died from a streptococcus A infection.
Dr. Refat Parveen stated that the fact a nurse had noted the rash on Jax Jefferys had "slipped her mind." She recalled feeling "uneasy" about Jax's condition and was surprised when a consultant agreed he could be discharged on November 30, 2022. Jax passed away the next day.
Jax had presented with a four-day cough, fever, and a red throat. Photos showed redness on his cheeks and chin, and a nurse reported a rash on his back, face, and neck. Dr. Parveen acknowledged that Jax's symptoms indicated a "moderate to high risk" of sepsis according to NHS guidelines.
The boy's mother recounted that the hospital diagnosed flu and stated there was "nothing they could do," agreeing to his discharge. She mentioned the nurse-spotted rash was dismissed as heat rash and never addressed further. The inquest into Jax's death continues.
