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Teen Dies of Rare Kidney Condition After Food Poisoning Scare
24 Feb
Summary
- Seventeen-year-old Lois Francis died from HUS, a rare kidney condition.
- Her death followed suspected food poisoning and E-coli infection.
- Doctors noted miscommunication and delayed treatment in her care.
A "bright, funny, deeply loving" 17-year-old student, Lois Francis, passed away at Royal Stoke University Hospital following complications from suspected food poisoning. Lois had been admitted to Leighton Hospital on September 23, 2023, with symptoms of bloody diarrhoea. Initial tests indicated inflammation, and she received rehydration fluids, anti-sickness medication, and antibiotics.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and by September 26, tests confirmed Shiga toxin-producing E-coli. This led to the development of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a rare condition affecting the kidneys, occurring in approximately two out of every 100,000 people annually in Europe and the US. Antibiotics were initially stopped, then restarted, and Lois was transferred to Royal Stoke's renal department on September 27.
An inquest heard that miscommunication within the medical team led to a delay in appropriate care. On September 28, Lois developed neurological symptoms and vision problems. Despite referrals to critical care, a delay in transfer occurred. A second CT scan revealed severe and irreversible brain swelling, and she passed away on September 29, 2023.
Consultants stated that while the brain injury had begun, the speed of her deterioration was exceptionally fast, even for HUS cases. Her family expressed profound grief and incomprehension at the loss of their healthy daughter due to a condition that could have been overcome.
