Toddler’s Death from a Fatal E. Coli Infection Could Have Been Prevented
E. coli is a dangerous infection that can lead to more serious illnesses and even death. There are ways to diagnose it and treat it, but time is a key factor. In a recent heartbreaking story out of Georgia, a toddler named Grayson Dunham died within a week after showing symptoms of a deadly E. coli infection, after having been misdiagnosed 5 times by the various doctors who saw treated him.
It is still unclear where the child was exposed to the deadly bacteria, but one morning when the family was on vacation, the child began vomiting and had diarrhea. At first, doctors diagnosed the common stomach flu and then a series of other incorrect diagnoses were given while the child’s condition worsened to include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. After being admitted to the intensive care unit, doctors noted that the child’s hemoglobin levels had dropped to zero. Despite hours of life-saving efforts, the child died in the hospital with his parents close by.
Now the child’s mother is warning other parents about the dangers of E. coli, and how a simple stool sample could have saved the boy’s life. The parents want to get the message out to parents to be aware of the symptoms of E. coli, and to be sure to request a stool sample if their child presents with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and a fever.
What is E. coli?
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria can be found in the human body. Most strains are harmless, but the one which led to the death of Grayson Dunham can be found in undercooked meat, unwashed contaminated fruits and vegetables and contaminated juices. It can also be spread by animals.
If an E.coli infection is left untreated, as it was in this case, it can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is, according to the Mayo Clinic, a condition caused by the abnormal destruction of red blood cells. The damaged red blood cells clog the filtering system in the kidneys, which can lead to life-threatening kidney failure.
There has been no mention of a lawsuit yet in this case; however, in a situation such as this when a stool sample could have identified the E. coli bacteria, the parents might be able to bring a medical malpractice claim against the doctors and hospital where the boy was being cared for when he died. The failure to diagnose the deadly bacteria – a diagnosis that could have saved the boy’s life – was a preventable medical error, and Grayson’s parents may be able to recover damages to help with the medical bills, their lost wages, and the funeral costs, to say nothing of their pain and suffering.
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For more than 40 years, Barry J. Nace dedicated his life to protecting the rights of victims of medical malpractice and other personal injuries. Over the course of his distinguished career, he demonstrated that multimillion-dollar results were never a matter of luck, but the product of skill, relentless work, and an unwavering commitment to justice. He secured dozens of verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million, including three that surpassed $30 million, leaving a lasting impact on the clients and communities he served.