From AAP
A six-month-old baby who died from pneumococcal meningitis could have survived if she had been taken to hospital sooner, a West Australian coroner has found.
A baby who died from an illness could have survived if she was taken to hospital more quickly.
Allegra Amelie Scafidas became ill on April 28, 2010, suffering from a fever, vomiting and shallow breathing.
Her mother, Nhon Vo, called the Healthdirect service and was told the baby probably had a stomach virus and she should call back if the baby’s temperature increased to 39.5C.
The following morning, an ambulance rushed Allegra to Princess Margaret hospital after Ms Vo noticed she was grunting, had turned blue around the mouth, her skin was yellow and a rash had developed on her thighs.
The baby died a week later.
Coroner Dominic Mulligan concluded Allegra died from natural causes.
“Had Allegra been taken to hospital on 28 April 2010, it is likely she would have survived, although the bacterial infection may have caused her significant harm,” the coroner said in his finding.
Ms Vo had called Healthdirect about 9.30pm that night and advised nurse Dianne Ison that her baby’s breathing was shallow, she had been throwing up for six and a half hours, had a fever of 38.8C, was whimpering and had not had any fluid since lunchtime.
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