I got this forward from a friend and thought i could share with you. Two and a half weeks ago (1/7/10) my six month old son had a fever and I took him to Getrudes hospital. The Doctor that saw him told me he had a mild throat infection so he prescribed Amoxyl and Cetamol syrup. We got the drugs and left fo Home and began administering the drugs as told. The next day the fever was on and off and on Saturday (03/07/10) morning we decided to take him for review as the fever was kept on coming and his soft spot was swollen, we took him to mater and carried along the drugs we had been giving him (Amoxil + cetamol). The doctor at Mater examined him and sent us to lab for some tests and also administered some drug for the fever. The test as we were told was to rule out malaria and yes he did not have malaria. We were again told that it’s the throat that is Inflamed. We were given Bustan, Rinnat and Piriton and told to discontinue the drugs we had been given at Getrudes. We went back home and administered the drugs as advised this was around 9.00am. All this time my son was looking just fine on the face. My son fell asleep shortly after and we left him with the hsehelp to go to the shop. We were gone for less than 30 minutes. When we came back we found our Son dead. She told us that my son just gasped for like 3 times after he had woken up and passed out just like that. He was still warm and looked n like he was asleep when we arrived. Heartbroken we took the body to Chiromo and a friend advised that we do an Autopsy to know exactly what might have killed him. We did this the next day (Sunday 04/07/10) and what the pathologist told us was shocking. That our son had Pneumonia and Meningitis and that is what killed him (the two as we were made to understand is caused by a bacterial strain that if it affects the lower respiratory organs it caused pneumonia but if not treated and gets to the brain at causes Meningitis). He said that his lungs were hard (instead of being soft and spongy) which he said was a sign of pneumonia and that there was pus in his brain – sign of meningitis. We were even told that Amoxyl is no longer used to treat infants (not sure whether this is true or not – u see u get to be told so many things but this one came from a doctor friend), makes me wonder why it was administered at Getrudes. We still wonder how the two medics in the two leading hospitals (one being the only Pediatric hospital in this country) failed to diagnose any of the two ailments. Anyway to you mothers and fathers reading this email just note

My deepest condolence to the parents who had to suffer this. Having said that this information is totally useless in as far as helping someone else make a better decision. There is nothing the parents could have done different. From the information presented it appears the standard of care was followed. Doctors use whatever presentations the patient has and sift through a tonne of possibilities to arrive at a diagnosis. There are times that the right diagnosis eludes them and this appears to be the case here. It could have happened anywhere in the world even in the most advanced countries. God gives life and God takes it away. May his soul rest in peace. It is easier when people stop wearing their spirituality on the sleeves and let it sink down to the core where in matters of life and death they know that that is Gods territory.

pole sana @reox

My condolences to the bereaved family... There's nothing in this World as devastating as losing a child. That said, @Kusadikika.. I beg to differ with your sentiments,and am very surprised by how you've expressed yourslef. This people lost a child...it's not their pet that got hit by a hit-and-run car.. It's clear you dont have kids. God gives and takes lifes,but he also gives us wisdom and will to take care of that same life. It's very disturbing to lose someone and have this nagging feeling that maybe there's something that you'd have done differently that might have saved the situation. There are lots of sick people who die out of neglect,delayed medical attention/response..etc. Why do you think we have ambulances and emergency services? God gave us life and the wisdom and resources to preciously guard that same life. The kind of situation described by @reox,happens to many kids and if i believe some lives would be saved if more care was to be taken. Our doctors are very fond of prescribing wrong medication and not being totally keen in their diagnosis coz they know we're ignorant,and they're lazy. I once dated a pharmacist and everytime I or my then young nephews was prescribed any medication,we'd research on it and confirm the side effects first. I remember my 6month old nephew was prescribed for 'Nise' just for a mild fever,yet the drug has some serious side effects even in adults! This was done in a very reputable children's hospital here in Nairobi. Doctors can mess you up big time. Again,my condolences to the bereaved family:(

My condolencies to the family of this child. i'd however like to correct some things i feel are not true. Amoxil is still a drug of choice for respiratory tract infections in children. Secondly, the autopsy report indicates advanced infection of both the lungs and the brain. So before we pass judgement on the doctors, it'd be helpful to know what exactly happened and see the case in context. All in all, it is sad a child died. Praying that God gives the family peace.