The health of our children and loved ones is extremely important to us, and at the slightest hint of illness, we do everything possible to get them better. This may mean a visit to our local GP, or that we visit the pharmacy and get them some medicine.
An inquest is currently taking place into the death of a schoolboy, aged 10, who died from an asthma attack just hours after attending his doctor’s surgery. Dante Kamara visited his local Medical Centre with his mum Claire Humberstone and saw the practice nurse.
The Sheffield Star reported the inquest where the coroner was told he did not appear particularly unwell at that stage, although his pulse rate was 140 beats per minute, compared to an average of 80-120. But his chest was not wheezing, and Dr Gillian North, a senior partner at the GP surgery, said he was not showing other signs that would have suggested he was suffering a serious attack.
She said: “Peak flow is only one aspect of a child’s asthma. He was active and had walked into the surgery, he was able to complete sentences in one breath rather than two.” She said she did not feel it was “clinically appropriate” for him to be put on a nebuliser – a device used to administer medication into the lungs. I do not think he was having the acute asthma attack that very sadly and tragically appeared a few hours later.”
Ms Humberstone raised concerns that her son’s condition was deteriorating and asked for a referral to Sheffield Children’s Hospital. She was advised to make an appointment with a GP to see whether this was possible and necessary. But, later that evening, Dante was in the park when he became unwell and was taken home.
A paramedic administered treatment but Dante collapsed and was taken to hospital. He was later pronounced dead. Paediatric pathologist Dr Martha Cohen said the cause of death was asthma. His lungs, trachea, and bronchi, were heavily congested with mucus that blocked his airways. She said a post-mortem examination showed signs of an acute attack, but she believed he had a baseline excess of mucus as a result of his chronic condition.
Dr Cohen said it was unusual for a child to die from an asthma attack. There were three other deaths from the condition in the region that year, but she had never come across any others in the 10 years before 2008.
The inquest continues to see if anyone is to be held negligent for the tragic death of Dante. A death of a child is a tragic event for any family to experience, especially after seeking medical attention.
