A third grader in Arizona’s West Valley has died just days after turning 9. According to the boy’s mother, the cause of death was complications from the flu.
The boy’s mother told local station 12News that she took her son to an emergency room in Avondale last Thursday. He had had a fever and had been vomiting since the previous day.
Discharge papers show that a doctor diagnosed the child with stomatitis, an inflammation of the lining of the mouth that can have a viral cause. The boy was sent home with anti-nausea medication. He was also given a note saying he could return to school the next day.
According to the mother, after about five hours at home the boy stopped responding, and she called an ambulance. The child was taken back to the emergency room, where he died. The mother said a flu test came back positive during the second visit. She was told the cause of death was complications from the flu. This information comes from the family’s account. The available materials include no official statement on the cause of death.
The Arizona Department of Health Services said at a briefing on Tuesday that the state is in the midst of a flu season significantly more severe than average. More than 2,400 cases have been reported since the start of the season.
The local community in the West Valley is mourning the boy, and his mother remembers him as always smiling. Parents who notice a fever and vomiting in a child should monitor the child’s condition. If the child’s condition worsens, it is advisable to contact a doctor again or call for help.
Source: 9News
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