Boy died after strep A not diagnosed, inquest hears

A five-year-old boy died after his streptococcus A infection was not diagnosed by health professionals, an inquest has heard.

Jax Jefferys, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, had a red rash and a fever when he attended Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth on 30 November 2022, Winchester Coroner's Court heard.

The hospital diagnosed flu, said there was "nothing they could do" and allowed him to go home, his mother Charlene McCormack told the inquest jury.

Jax died the following evening after collapsing while being driven back to hospital by his parents, the court heard.

The boy was coughing and drowsy and was seen by paramedics and a GP in the days before his first hospital visit, the court heard.

Dr Eric Wilkinson, from Southbourne Surgery in West Sussex, said he diagnosed croup on 28 November and prescribed an extended course of steroids.

The GP told the jury Jax had no sore throat or pus in his throat, and he did not suspect a bacterial infection.

On 30 November, a hospital nurse spotted red rashes on Jax's head, face, neck and back, senior coroner Chris Wilkinson said.

Giving evidence, the boy's mother said: "They were never mentioned again.

"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.

"They said there's nothing they could do - just paracetamol, rest," Jax's mother told the court.

"We agreed he could be discharged but if there was anything concerning in the bloods, we should bring him straight back to hospital."

At 02:00 GMT, the hospital phoned to say the blood results were "absolutely fine" although they showed Jax was dehydrated, she added.

At 20:00 on 1 December, the boy complained he could not feel his legs, the court heard.

On the way to hospital in his parents' car, he began to bleed, became lifeless and could not be revived, the coroner said.

In a statement read out in court, Jax's mother described her youngest child, 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.

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