Two-year-old boy dies from flu in Hong Kong, the first young death of city’s winter influenza season
- Tuen Mun Hospital spokesman says boy was admitted to its paediatric intensive care unit on January 20
- Paediatricians gave boy Tamiflu, antibiotics and antiepileptic drugs
A two-year-old boy has died from flu in Hong Kong – the first child fatality of this year’s winter influenza season.
A Tuen Mun Hospital spokesman said the boy was admitted to its paediatric intensive care unit on January 20 after being treated at the accident and emergency department of Tin Shui Wai Hospital the same day.
Paediatricians gave the boy Tamiflu – an antiviral medicine for the treatment of the illness – antibiotics and antiepileptic drugs.
He was diagnosed with acute necrotising encephalitis and needed a mechanical ventilator to help him breathe.
His condition continued to deteriorate and he died at 7pm on Monday.
The boy’s family said that before visiting the public hospital they had consulted a private doctor, who confirmed the boy had the influenza A virus and prescribed Tamiflu.