Boy, 5, dies of sepsis hours after being sent home from hospital with ‘stomach bug’ as family left devastated

A FIVE-year-old boy died of sepsis just hours after he was sent home from hospital with a “stomach bug”, an inquest heard.

Theodore Paul Cheetham-Serjent, known as Theo, was taken to hospital by his mum, Paula, after he had a temperature, cold feet and diarrhoea.

A five-year-old boy died hours after he was sent home from hospital with a ‘stomach bug’

Theo’s mum, Paula, described her son as ‘quite an astonishing little boy’

The inquest was told that trainee doctor, Grace Olowonyo, examined Theo and diagnosed gastroenteritis.

But when the family returned to their home in Wigan, Theo began vomiting, so Paula called an ambulance.

When paramedics arrived, they gave Theo antibiotics as they suspected sepsis, Manchester Evening News reports.

Theo was then intubated, but he suffered a heart attack at 8:20am on December 30, 2019.

He was resuscitated, but half an hour later suffered a second cardiac arrest and died at 9:03am.

Mr Brennand, sitting at Bolton Coroners’ Court, Greater Manchester said: “The cause of Theo’s death was septicaemia” (Neisseria meningitis Type B.)

He added: “It is my view and my finding that the decision and the presumptive diagnosis that was made at the first presentation by Dr Olowonyo was not unreasonable in the circumstances.

“It was, of course, as we now know, an entirely erroneous diagnosis.”

Dr Olowony did not seek a second opinion from senior colleagues, request a blood test or take a stool sample – which could have diagnosed sepsis – but other doctors told the inquest they would have done the same as their colleague.

Coroner Timothy Brennand said despite the family’s criticism, Dr Olowony’s diagnosis was not “unreasonable in the circumstances.”

In a GoFundMe tribute page, Alysha Elizabeth Hampson said: “Our hearts are broken, my beautiful, gentle baby brother passed away from meningococcal meningitis.

“We are beyond devastated, it’s so cruel.

“Theo was loved by anyone who met him, the cutest smile, the sweetest voice and the gentlest soul, we miss him so much.”

Dr Wayne Heaven, a consultant in emergency medicine, said all [medics] believed that the diagnosis was appropriate, given Theo’s symptoms.”

Theo’s mum Paula described her son as “quite an astonishing little boy” and a “much-anticipated” addition to the family.

Mr Brennand added: “Where there is any doubt and room for doubt it is always safer and far more advisable to cross-check and ask of other more senior clinicians so that there is a confirmation in relation to the correctness of the differential diagnosis.

“This seems to me an exaltation in common sense.

“That didn’t happen in this case and the reason it didn’t happen was that Dr Olowonyo was convinced in her own mind that she had made the correct diagnosis.

“That is a decision which she will have to live with and consequences of which the family will have to endure for the remainder of their days.”

Dr Olowony’s diagnosis was not ‘unreasonable in the circumstances’