Boy, 9, dies from pneumococcal complications a day after hospital admission
A previously healthy 9-year-old boy died on 15 October from pneumococcal infection complicated by empyema, septic shock and acute kidney failure. He had no travel history during incubation, and his household contacts remain asymptomatic. The case has been referred to the coroner.
A 9-year-old boy has died after contracting a pneumococcal infection that led to empyema, septic shock and acute kidney failure, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Sunday. The case has been referred to the Coroner's Court for investigation.
The boy, who had been in good health, developed fever, a runny nose, cough and chest pain when coughing on 10 October. He visited private clinics on that day and again on 13 October. On 14 October, as his symptoms persisted and he developed shortness of breath, he was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Tin Shui Wai Hospital, where he was immediately transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at Tuen Mun Hospital. His condition deteriorated and he died on 15 October.
A sample of the boy's pleural fluid tested positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the CHP said. Further laboratory tests and serotyping of the bacterial sample are under way.
Preliminary investigations showed the boy had no travel history during the incubation period, and none of his household contacts have shown symptoms so far.
The CHP said pneumococcal infection is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can lead to various illnesses, including common conditions such as otitis media and pneumonia. It can also cause invasive pneumococcal disease, such as meningitis, bacteraemia and septicaemia, which can result in severe illness or death. Local data show that about 3 per cent of paediatric invasive pneumococcal disease cases recorded in the past 10 years were fatal.