Verulam mother's heartbreak: Son (4) dies soon after treatment for ‘persistent cough’
VIRUS
Grieving parents Nerissa Rosendaw and Kumiel Rosendaw hold a photograph of their youngest son Altaio.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo
A Verulam mother shared her devastating experience of losing her four-year-old son hours after he was treated for a cough.
Nerissa Rosendaw, 35, said her son Altaio ‘Tuti’ Jordan, 4, had recovered from flu-like symptoms he had suffered over the last two weeks.
But when his cough persisted, she took him to their family doctor on Wednesday.
“The doctor told us that Altaio was suffering from a bronchospasm attack. We did not think that it was serious as he had recovered from the flu and he was energetic.
“He was helping his dad and uncle in the yard in the morning, and he had walked into the doctor’s surgery by himself.
“The doctor gave Altaio two injections and nebulised him. We then went home. While in the car, Altaio appeared weak and drowsy. We got home at around 11.30. When he did not wake up by 2pm, I messaged the doctor and he said we should let him rest,” claimed Rosendaw.
Altaio ‘Tuti’ Jordan
Image: Supplied
“He was restless in his sleep, hallucinating and screaming. A few times, he suddenly screamed out for his older brother Liam, 7.
“At around 5pm, Altaio’s body began jerking. I quickly picked him up but by then, his eyes were rolling back. I cannot describe how I felt at that point. I just screamed,” Rosendaw recalled.
She said her brother Prevlin Govender, who lived nearby, heard her screams and rushed to her aid.
“Prevlin began doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Altaio but there was fluid coming out of his mouth. We then rushed him to Reaction Unit South Africa’s offices where paramedics declared him dead on arrival.
“I was in shock. I could not believe that my child had died in my arms at home. I could not understand how this could have happened when he was not seriously ill,” she added.
Rosendaw said while Altaio’s death certificate stated that he died of natural causes but they were waiting for the final post mortem results to determine if they would be pursuing a medical negligence case. Altaio was laid to rest on Saturday.
Last week, Sydenham mother Carla Bowes, whose eight-year-old son Liam died after contracting the flu, told POST that she urged parents to be extra vigilant and not take mild symptoms lightly.
She said Liam, a grade 2 pupil at Charles Hugo Primary School, had first developed a high temperature before his symptoms progressed to coughing, vomiting and diarrhea.
“I took him to King Dinuzulu Hospital on June 5, but the doctor - who did not examine his chest or examine him physically - told me that I should take him to the clinic as they do not treat flu cases.
Liam Bowes
Image: Supplied
“I took him to a general practitioner instead, so that we could fast-track his treatment.
“He was not getting better and on the third visit to the doctor, he gave us a referral form to go to King Dinuzulu Hospital,” Bowes added.
She said Liam was admitted to King Dinuzulu Hospital last Saturday.
By Sunday, his condition had deteriorated and he had been diagnosed with pneumonia.
“On Sunday, he was transferred to King Edward Hospital in an ambulance.
“Doctors told us that he had water in his lungs, and his kidneys were failing. He was breathing with an oxygen bag and his blood pressure had shot up.
“He had also picked up a viral infection. More tests were done and Liam was due for a blood transfusion, but he died on Wednesday, before he could get the transfusion and before we got the results of what the viral infection could be,” she added.
Bowes said she urged parents whose children present with flu-like symptoms, to seek medical attention immediately.
“If my baby had been given the treatment he needed the first time we took him to the hospital, he would probably still be alive. I am angry. Parents must not miss the signs. With Liam, the signs were there but we were given the runaround, and when we did get the help, it was too late,” Bowes warned.
Dr Ashendri Pillay, head of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital’s Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit said respiratory viruses circulating in Durban include influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2.
“We have noticed an overlap of symptoms - including fever, nasal congestion, cough, and sneezing - between influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2.
RSV is highly-contagious and commonly causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children and infants.
She said symptoms to watch for included a high fever (> 38.5°C), extreme tiredness or lethargy, severe body or muscle ache (the child may refuse to walk), and a dry persistent cough.
Headaches, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting or stomach pain are also common symptoms.
