Boy dies of incurable common virus

[alicia-w]

A fit 12-year-old boy, who was rushed to hospital after becoming ill with a head and earache after playing football, tragically died from an incurable common virus, an inquest heard today.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard how Oliver Horslen was perfectly fit and healthy died from an inflamation of the heart after contracting parvovirus, which has sympton similar to flu and is carried by hundreds of thousands of people.

Oliver was taken to his doctors on January 19 and then sent to Princess Alexandra Hopsital in Harlow. Two days later he was transferred to St Mary's Hospital, W2, where his condition deteriorated and he died on January 22.

Pathologist Dr Michael Ashworth said a virologist had identified the virus as B19 Parvovirus, which is known to cause Myocarditis, an inflammation of heart muscle.

Mr Ashworth said: "The virus usually causes minor illnesses especially among pregnant women but it quite often results in the death of the baby in-utero."

Coroner Paul Knapman said: "The fact is that this virus is around us all and you get it from being breathed on.

"The question is why did it cause the death of this boy."

Mr Ashworth replied: "I can only speculate that there is something in his make-up that has made him more susceptible."

The coroner said: "Some people die all the time from illnesses that other people carry."

Mr Ashworth was then asked whether there had been a misdiagnosis at any stage, because the family had been told by doctors at the Harlow hospital that there were problems with Oliver's liver and kidneys, to which he replied no.

He said: "Myocarditis is a spectrum of diseases. It depends on the individual case as to when it is detected. It can cause problems with other organs."

Dr Mehrengis Cooper, a paediatric consultant at St Mary's Hospital told the court: "There is no curative treatment for Myocarditis. A lot of his symptoms were similar to flu symptoms.

"When he started hallucinating it became a real worry. It was our first sign that there could another viral illness floating around in his body."

As Oliver's parents, gillian and Colin, both began weeping the coroner added: "The question is why Oliver Horslen, when there are hundreds of thousands of healthy people with the virus?

"But there is absolutely nothing that could have been done. Who would have known we'd have ended up with the story we have?

"It seems there was a fairly rapid deterioration. His breathing became compromised and he was transferred to St Mary's. There were signs of multi-organ failure and signs that something was going on with his heart.

"It is very difficult to find the causes of death in children and babies, in this case due to assiduity and costs of tests we are in a position to know not only that he has died from Myocarditis but also the virus.

"Whether that is of any comfort, of course, is another matter.

"It is a virus that's around the community. We don't know why he had to die. I'm afraid it's one of those things we cannot answer. I say it's death due to natural causes. He died from acute viral Myocarditis."

Outside the court the parents refused to comment.

Verdict: Natural causes.
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