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<\/p>\nA hospital doctor forgot to look for a reported red rash on a five-year-old boy who subsequently died from a streptococcus A infection, an inquest jury has heard.<\/p>\n
Dr Refat Parveen said it “slipped my mind” that a nurse at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth had noted the rash – a possible sign of a serious infection – on Jax Jefferys, from Waterlooville, Hampshire.<\/p>\n
She said she was “uneasy” about Jax’s condition and was surprised that a consultant agreed that the boy could go home on 30 November 2022.<\/p>\n
He died the following day after collapsing while being driven back to hospital by his parents, Winchester Coroner’s Court was previously told.<\/p>\n
Jax had a four-day-old cough, a red throat and a fever when he was initially taken to hospital, the jury heard.<\/p>\n
The court was shown photos, taken by Jax’s mother in the emergency department, of redness on his cheeks and chin.<\/p>\n
Giving evidence, nurse Lydia Savin said she noticed a red rash on his back, face and neck and reported it.<\/p>\n
However, Dr Parveen told the court: “Unfortunately, when I went back to review him, it slipped my mind.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t specifically go and look for a rash. I should have remembered, but I didn’t.”<\/p>\n
The emergency department doctor said she would have noticed any redness on the boy’s face, adding that rashes “can fade or become more prominent”.<\/p>\n
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Queen Alexandra Hospital diagnosed flu and sent the boy home, the court heard [BBC]<\/p>\n
Dr Parveen was asked about signs of sepsis and scarlet fever, which is related to streptococcus A.<\/p>\n
She said: “My thinking was… this could be a more serious illness.<\/p>\n
“I did wonder why he’s gone home, because I thought the plan was he’s going to the paediatric [department].”<\/p>\n
She agreed with senior Hampshire coroner Chris Wilkinson that Jax’s presentation showed a “moderate to high risk” of sepsis, according to NHS guidelines.<\/p>\n
Previously, the boy’s mother said the hospital diagnosed flu, said there was “nothing they could do” and agreed he could go home.<\/p>\n
Charlene McCormack said the rash spotted by the nurse was ascribed to a possible heat rash and “never mentioned again”.<\/p>\n
In a statement read out in court, she described her youngest child, who had three older sisters, as “extremely loving, cheeky and boisterous”.<\/p>\n
The week-long inquest continues.<\/p>\n
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