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Misdiagnosis led to malaria death | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The death of a Cardiff University student from malaria could have been prevented, a coroner has said. | |
Mathilda Cooper, 19, contracted the disease in Uganda and died a few days after returning to south Wales. | |
She contacted both NHS Direct and her GP, but was diagnosed with flu. | |
Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Mary Hassell said: "With the right treatment her condition was probably curable, up to and including the last contact with the health professionals." | |
The inquest heard from Dr Ashley Croft, one of the UK's leading experts on tropical diseases, who called for procedures to be strengthened. | |
The system failed, it fell down. Mathilda Cooper's mother | |
He told the hearing: "It was a diagnosis that shouldn't have been missed but it was, with tragic consequences. | |
"Something in NHS protocols needs to be strengthened. The fact information about her trip to Uganda got lost is quite wrong." | |
The inquest heard how Miss Cooper, originally from Burrington, Devon, had been visiting her father in Uganda for Christmas. | |
She had not taken anti-malarial drugs because she had previously lived in Africa, was a frequent visitor and thought she was immune to the disease. | |
The student, who was studying politics, philosophy and ancient history, was feeling unwell by the time she arrived back at her halls of residence in Cardiff in January 2006. | |
Her friend, Helen Wheeler, said:"She was tired and not her usual self and said she had flu-like symptoms. | |
She was told during a face to face consultation she had flu. This was not the case Coroner Mary Hassell | |
"It was unlike her. She said she had felt ill for a couple of days." | |
Miss Cooper's condition worsened over the following days, and she displayed symptoms including general tiredness, nausea and upset stomach. | |
Miss Wheeler contacted NHS Direct on her friend's behalf and advisors asked Miss Cooper a series of questions - including whether or not she had recently been abroad. | |
She was diagnosed with flu and told to see her GP. | |
The following day she visited her doctor but was not asked if she had been abroad, and did not volunteer the information, so malaria was not suspected. | |
She was diagnosed with a viral infection and told to return if she continued to feel unwell. | |
But within four days, Miss Cooper had died, and was discovered in her room by Miss Wheeler. | |
Malaria can be spread by mosquitos | |
After the inquest, Miss Cooper's mother, Ros Wehner, said anyone displaying flu-like symptoms should be automatically asked if they had been abroad. | |
She said: "The system failed. It fell down." | |
Recording a narrative verdict, Mary Hassell, coroner for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, said: "I have no hesitation Matti died from malaria. | |
"In that sense she died from a natural cause, but in this situation it doesn't adequately reflect the sequence of events. | |
"On 22 January, she was told during telephone conversations with the NHS Direct and the out of hours doctor service, she had flu. This was not the case. | |
"On 23 January she was told during a face to face consultation she had flu. This was not the case. | |
"Matti died on 26 January from cerebral malaria. | |
"It was not diagnosed because health professionals did not illicit the information she had been in a high-risk malarial area, or they elicited the information but did not recognise the significance of this." |