Investigation launched into toddler's meningococcal death
The family of a 16-month-old toddler claim their son was sent home from a South Australian hospital in the lead up to his death from meningococcal disease.
Little Charlie Mason was rushed to Noarlunga Hospital after falling ill last weekend, but his family claim doctors cleared him to return home.
The little boy's condition rapidly deteriorated and he was then rushed to Flinders Hospital, where he was placed on life support.
The tough toddler was transferred to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital where he sadly died on Wednesday night.
“An investigation is underway to look and see what happened and whether anything could’ve been done differently,” Professor Paddy Phillips said.
RELATED:
Adelaide toddler dies days after contracting meningococcal
SA toddler dies in hospital
“Even with the best of treatment, (meningococcal) can be so rapidly progressive as to be fatal, and that’s why we do still see deaths from it.”
Professor Phillips said meningococcal is particularly hard to diagnose in young children, who are unable to describe their symptoms.
Charlie’s grandmother, Bianca Bais, said the toddler’s mother thought her son's "red dots" were chickenpox and has urged parents to educate themselves about how fast the “cruel and ugly disease” attacks.
Charlie contracted meningococcal B - the most common strain of the deadly disease – with health authorities providing precautionary antibiotics to a number of people who had contact with him.
