Jax Jefferys: Strep A 'developed as a secondary infection', inquest into sudden death of five-year-old hears
An inquest into the death of a five-year-old continues
An inquest into the death of a five-year-old boy who went into septic shock after contracting Strep A has heard it is ‘likely’ it developed as a secondary infection.
Inquest proceedings into the death of Jax Jefferys have continued today (June 11) after the Waterlooville youngster died of Strep A complications on December 1, 2022.
The week-long hearing, which is being attended by an 11-person jury due to the involvement of a notifiable disease, heard a statement from paediatric pathologist, Samantha Holden, who conducted Jax’s post mortem.
She said: “Jax’s post mortem examination has identified the presence of invasive Group 1 Strep A which would account for his death.
The court also heard that Strep A was detected in all samples taken.
Jax was diagnosed with Influenza A while at Queen Alexandra Hospital’s emergency department on the evening of November 30, 2022.
He was taken to A&E after his mum, Charlene McCormack, was advised by her local GP - Southbourne Surgery - to attend if his symptoms of a barking cough and a high temperature persisted.
During his time at the hospital, he was assessed by Dr Refat Parveen and an initial diagnosis of tonsillitis was discussed. But Jax’s mum said she“fought back” as she was concerned this was incorrect.
She previously told the court: “I didn’t think I was being listened to. The doctor was trying to talk to a five-year-old who was barely conscious and not listening to me, so I asked to change doctors before the Influenza A swabs.
“I fought back initially because they said they believed he had tonsillitis but I didn’t believe that. He looked atrocious. He looked really poorly.”
Swabs later returned a positive result for Influenza A, with Dr Marit Ohrndorf, who was also on shift that evening, telling the court there was no "cause for concern" before Jax was discharged.
He was taken home in the early hours of December 1 following blood tests which showed signs of dehydration and Ms McCormack was advised to keep giving Jax fluids.
That evening, Jax complained of being unable to feel his legs, prompting his parents to rush him back to hospital. During the ten-minute car ride to A&E, he became unresponsive and his mum had to perform CPR on him.
Once at the hospital, Dr David Patel, alongside a team of doctors and nurses, tried to resuscitate Jax, but after 90 minutes of using life saving techniques, he was pronounced dead.
In a statement, which was read out in court at the start of the inquest, Jax’s mum said: “When Jax died, my heart was taken away. He was my only little boy. He was such a wanted and loved child. Jax was unforgettable - everyone had a story about him. He was an amazing boy.”
The jury has been adjourned until tomorrow morning.
More updates to follow.