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Woman dies of allergic reaction to antibiotics
AN ELDERLY woman died in hospital after suffering an anaphylactic shock, an inquest heard.
It is thought the 86-year-old, who had a weak heart, had an allergic reaction to antibiotics administered through a feeding tube.
Widow Margaret Attwell, who lived at Ersham House nursing home in Hailsham, was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital (EDGH) on April 5 last year after telling staff at the nursing home that she felt unwell and was breathless. Doctors told her that she was likely to be in hospital for a couple of days. She became increasingly unwell and confused and died six days later.
After being admitted, Mrs Attwell was taken to Glynde Ward, an ear, nose and throat ward, as there were no beds available elsewhere.
She was moved to an isolation ward on April 10 as it was thought she had MRSA but it was later found she did not have the hospital infection.
The previous day a feeding tube had been inserted into her nose as Mrs Attwell was unable to swallow. Medication, including antibiotics, was administered.
Seven hours before Mrs Attwell passed away, a doctor noticed swelling to the lips and mouth and diagnosed suspected anaphylaxis and treated the patient with anti-allergy drugs and adrenaline.
The inquest, held in Eastbourne on Thursday (January 21), heard how her son's former partner, Linda Boagey, who had known the elderly lady for 26 years and called her 'mum', had also noticed how dry her lips were and how Mrs Attwell's son, Peter, noticed swelling to the mouth when he visited on April 10, hours before she passed away.
Dr Michael Tarzi, an honorary consultant at the EDGH, carried out an investigation. The specialist told the inquest that the food given through the tube, latex in gloves used by medics or other medication could have caused the allergic reaction but he concluded that the antibiotic, Amoxicillin, was the most likely cause, and the elderly lady probably became allergic during the treatment as she had no known allergies previously.
Describing it as an 'unusual case', as a severe allergic reaction of this type is very rare, coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of death due to natural causes.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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