New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Toddler’s Fatal E. Coli Infection

By Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP | November 17, 2016

A young Indiana family is mourning the loss of their 2-year old son after he succumbed to a fatal E. coli infection in late summer. The child passed away within a week of beginning to show symptoms, but not before he was misdiagnosed five times by different doctors. Now, his mother is speaking out to warn other parents in hopes that they will never have to go through a similar ordeal.

Health officials have not yet determined how or where the boy was exposed to the deadly bacteria. The family had been enjoying a summer vacation complete with visits to a petting zoo, the local state fair, and eating out at various restaurants. The fun took a dramatic turn one morning, when the boy suddenly started vomiting and experiencing diarrhea.

Doctors first thought the child had a stomach flu, then told his parents they feared his intestines may have been folded over each other. Later, doctors said they thought the boy was having problems related to his appendix. Meanwhile, the boy’s condition only worsened and he began experiencing severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.

After days without answers, the toddler was admitted to the intensive care unit of an Indiana children’s hospital. There, his parents received the heartbreaking news that their son’s health was rapidly deteriorating. The child’s hemoglobin, which is required to carry oxygen in the blood, had dropped to zero. Unable to get his heart pumping on its own, doctors performed CPR for an hour and 45 minutes, but were unsuccessful. Tragically, the child passed away in the early hours of August 15, with his parents by his side.

A Fatal Misdiagnosis of a Treatable Infection

A stool sample ultimately determined the child had been sickened by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Strains of the bacteria can be found in undercooked meat, unwashed contaminated fruits and vegetables, and contaminated fruit juice. Animals like the ones found in petting zoos can also spread E. coli. If left untreated, the bacteria can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The condition destroys red blood cells and clogs the kidneys’ filtering systems. HUS is the most common cause of acute kidney injury in children, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Though HUS can be life threatening, more than 90 percent of affected children recover without suffering long-term health complications. The child’s mother will never know if her son could have been saved if only he had been correctly diagnosed earlier. She is urging parents to be aware of the symptoms of E. coli, which include intense abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and fever. She also advises parents to advocate on behalf of their child, ask plenty of questions, and demand a stool sample be taken if one was not ordered by the doctor.

New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Eichen, Crutchlow, Zaslow & MeElroy LLP Hold Negligent Doctors Accountable for Their Mistakes

If you have suffered a long-term health complication or lost a loved one because of a doctor’s mistake, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim. Contact the New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers at Eichen, Crutchlow, Zaslow & McElroy LLP to learn about your rights and legal options. Our compassionate and dedicated attorneys will advocate on your behalf to hold doctors and hospitals accountable and get you the compensation to which you are entitled. Call 732-777-0100 today to schedule a free consultation or contact us online. Our offices are located in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, where we represent individuals and families throughout New Jersey.

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