A five-year-old boy died after medics failed to diagnose his Strep A infection, an inquest has heard.
Jax Jefferys, from Waterlooville in Hampshire, was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth on November 30, 2022 after developing a red rash and a fever.
Five year old Jax Jefferys died after his Strep A infection was not diagnosed by health professionals, an inquest has heard Credit: Solent
He was treated at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth Credit: Getty
But, he was diagnosed with flu and told by hospital staff there was “nothing they could do”, his mum Charlene McCormack told the inquest jury at Winchester Coroner’s Court.
He died the following evening after collapsing while being driven back to hospital by his parents.
The court heard that Jax had been coughing and was drowsy in the days leading up to his first hospital visit.
According to senior coroner Chris Wilkinson, a hospital nurse spotted red rashes on Jax’s head, face, neck and back.
However, giving evidence Charlene said that these rashes “were never mentioned again”.
Streptococcus A, more widely known as , is a common type of bacterial infection.
While infections often only cause mild illness, such as a sore throat, fever and headache, they can also lead to scarlet fever and deadly invasive Group A Strep disease, where the bacteria invades the blood, muscles or lungs.
Symptoms of Strep A can be flu-like including a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body, a sore throat , severe muscle aches and a rash that feels rough.
Recalling Jax’s symptoms, Charlene said: “The nurse said it could possibly be a heat rash because of his temperature, but she would pass it on to the doctor.”
Later that evening, hospital blood tests diagnosed influenza A, although further blood tests were ordered, the court heard.
Charlene added: “They said there’s nothing they could do – just paracetamol, rest.
“We agreed he could be discharged but if there was anything concerning in the bloods, we should bring him straight back to hospital.”
The hospital then phoned at 2am to say Jax’s blood test results were “absolutely fine” although they showed Jax was dehydrated , she added.
But on December 1, Jax complained that he could not feel his legs.
In his parents’ car on the way back to hospital, Jax began to bleed, became lifeless and could not be revived, the coroner said.
In a statement read out in court, Charlene described Jax, who had three older sisters, as “extremely loving, cheeky and boisterous”.
She added: “When Jax died, my heart was taken away.”
The week-long inquest continues.
Sun Health have contacted Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust for comment.
Symptoms of a Strep A infection
Strep A is a common type of bacteria and most infections from it are mild and easily treated with antibiotics.
Some infections, however, can .
Common symptoms of a Strep A infection include:
- flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body
- sore throat (strep throat or )
- a rash that feels rough, like sandpaper ()
- scabs and sores ()
- pain and swelling ()
- severe muscle aches
- nausea and vomiting
The NHS says you should trust your instincts if you think your child is seriously ill – you know better than anyone else what your child is usually like, so you’ll know when something is very wrong.
You should call 999 or go to A&E if:
- your child is having difficulty breathing – they may make grunting noises, or you may notice their tummy sucking under their ribs
- there are pauses when your child breathes
- your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue or grey – on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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