Baby boy died less than a day after being misdiagnosed with tonsillitis

A baby boy died just 24 hours after a doctor misdiagnosed him with tonsillitis – after they missed the signs of bacterial meningitis.

Nine-month-old Lucas Thomas Munslow from Flint, Wales, died due to ‘avoidable circumstances’, his family said.

The little boy died at Bodelwyddan hospital in May 2019, where just hours earlier doctors told his parents he was safe to return home with a case of ‘viral tonsillitis’.

An inquest into baby Lucas’s death by John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, revealed staff at the hospital had shown ‘poor practice’.

The emergency department did not think Lucas was severely ill when his parents rushed him to hospital, and classified him as a yellow case, to be seen in an hour – rather than an orange case, which would have had him seen in ten minutes.

The nurse who saw Lucas said he was ‘stiff and vacant’ and had a squint, but the doctor who treated and discharged the lad said there were ‘no red flags’.

MORE : Cases of meningitis ‘more than doubled last year’ after lockdown was lifted

A statement from Lucas’s family said: ‘We lost Lucas, our first-born baby boy, in circumstances that could have been avoided.

‘We have been left deeply traumatised by the death of Lucas and continue to suffer as we try to come to terms with our loss.’

The family said they are considering whether to pursue a claim against the hospital for clinical negligence.

The bacterial infection mainly affects babies and children, and vaccinations are available for babies up to one year old.

Meningitis and septicaemia often happen together and usually begin with a fever, vomiting, a headache and generally feeling unwell.

For this reason it can be easy to brush the illness off as a common cold or flu – but there are some very easy steps to take to spot the illness early.

Limb pain, pale skin, and cold hands and feet often appear earlier than the rash.

These symptoms may coincide with neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights and confusion.

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