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| Dorset boy in coma after strep A misdiagnosis, family says | Dorset boy in coma after strep A misdiagnosis, family says |
| (25 days later) | |
| Paul Silva said a doctor suspected his son Joseph had a viral infection or milk allergy | Paul Silva said a doctor suspected his son Joseph had a viral infection or milk allergy |
| A one-year-old boy nearly died after doctors failed to spot a severe strep A infection, his family has said. | A one-year-old boy nearly died after doctors failed to spot a severe strep A infection, his family has said. |
| Paul Silva, from West Parley, Dorset, said his son Joseph was diagnosed with less serious conditions by both a GP and Bournemouth Hospital in November. | Paul Silva, from West Parley, Dorset, said his son Joseph was diagnosed with less serious conditions by both a GP and Bournemouth Hospital in November. |
| However the boy was later placed in an induced coma on 21 November due to sepsis, Mr Silva said. | However the boy was later placed in an induced coma on 21 November due to sepsis, Mr Silva said. |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust has begun an investigation but declined to comment. | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust has begun an investigation but declined to comment. |
| The one-year-old was placed in an induced coma at Poole Hospital, his father said | The one-year-old was placed in an induced coma at Poole Hospital, his father said |
| Mr Silva said his son was taken to a GP three times in the three weeks before his hospital admission, with symptoms including repeated fevers, a rash and breathing problems. | Mr Silva said his son was taken to a GP three times in the three weeks before his hospital admission, with symptoms including repeated fevers, a rash and breathing problems. |
| He said: "He had a raspy chest rattle. He would sit on my lap just breathing... like you had a little motorbike on you." | He said: "He had a raspy chest rattle. He would sit on my lap just breathing... like you had a little motorbike on you." |
| The GP listened to Joseph's chest which was clear and suspected a viral infection or milk allergy, Mr Silva said. | The GP listened to Joseph's chest which was clear and suspected a viral infection or milk allergy, Mr Silva said. |
| Joseph is now recovering at home | Joseph is now recovering at home |
| On 20 November Joseph was sent to Bournemouth Hospital as an "amber sepsis risk" by the NHS 111 line, his father added. | On 20 November Joseph was sent to Bournemouth Hospital as an "amber sepsis risk" by the NHS 111 line, his father added. |
| However the hospital performed no blood test or scan, he said. | However the hospital performed no blood test or scan, he said. |
| The family was sent home with a leaflet about bronchiolitis, a viral chest infection. | The family was sent home with a leaflet about bronchiolitis, a viral chest infection. |
| Mr Silva said Joseph was taken by ambulance the following day to Poole Hospital, which diagnosed sepsis and placed the boy in an induced coma. | Mr Silva said Joseph was taken by ambulance the following day to Poole Hospital, which diagnosed sepsis and placed the boy in an induced coma. |
| He was then transferred to Southampton General Hospital which confirmed a strep A infection and drained fluid from his chest. | He was then transferred to Southampton General Hospital which confirmed a strep A infection and drained fluid from his chest. |
| The UK Sepsis Trust said a strep A infection could led to sepsis | The UK Sepsis Trust said a strep A infection could led to sepsis |
| Mr Silva said: "It was a truly horrific and harrowing experience and doctors could not confirm if he would live or die. | Mr Silva said: "It was a truly horrific and harrowing experience and doctors could not confirm if he would live or die. |
| "His whole traumatic experience would have been completely avoided if [the] GP or [Bournemouth] hospital had run a simple blood test and chest scan. | "His whole traumatic experience would have been completely avoided if [the] GP or [Bournemouth] hospital had run a simple blood test and chest scan. |
| "It was a complete misdiagnosis. We have lost faith in the health service." | "It was a complete misdiagnosis. We have lost faith in the health service." |
| The toddler is now recovering at home. | The toddler is now recovering at home. |
| In a private email seen by the BBC, Bournemouth Hospital said it had opened an inquiry. | In a private email seen by the BBC, Bournemouth Hospital said it had opened an inquiry. |
| However both the hospital and the GP service, Barcellos Family Practice, declined to comment publicly, citing patient confidentiality. | However both the hospital and the GP service, Barcellos Family Practice, declined to comment publicly, citing patient confidentiality. |
| Strep A symptoms include fever, a sore throat and a rash | Strep A symptoms include fever, a sore throat and a rash |
| Sepsis - an infection leading to organ failure - is often diagnosed by testing temperature, heart and breathing rates, or blood, while imaging can determine the type of infection and where it is located, according to an NHS website, external. | Sepsis - an infection leading to organ failure - is often diagnosed by testing temperature, heart and breathing rates, or blood, while imaging can determine the type of infection and where it is located, according to an NHS website, external. |
| The UK Sepsis Trust said a streptococcus A infection could lead to sepsis. | The UK Sepsis Trust said a streptococcus A infection could lead to sepsis. |
| It said it would be "reasonable" for doctors to order blood tests or scans where parents were worried and children looked "very unwell", although a clear chest would not warrant a scan. | It said it would be "reasonable" for doctors to order blood tests or scans where parents were worried and children looked "very unwell", although a clear chest would not warrant a scan. |
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