Girl, 9, dies five days after showing signs of swine flu
A PIETERMARITZBURG pupil, who celebrated her 9th birthday last week, was buried on Monday after showing signs of the Novel Influenza A, (H1N1) virus, previously referred to as swine flu.
Giselle Dariele Chetty, a Grade 3 pupil at Deccan Road Primary School, died five days after showing signs of the contagious virus.
Her brother, Tyreik, 2, apparently also contracted the virus and was hospitalised. He has since been discharged.
The children’s mother, Parusha Chetty, is the ANC Ward 28 candidate councillor in the area.
A family spokesperson and ANC proportional representative councillor, Rachel Soobiah, said the post-mortem revealed Giselle died of viral pneumonia, a symptom of swine flu.
She said Giselle was taken to a general practitioner (GP) after displaying flu-like symptoms. This included fever and a cough. She was also not eating.
Soobiah said the doctor did not pick up that she had the virus.
“He gave her an injection and flu medication and sent her home.”
By Friday, her health had deteriorated.
“She had become weak, and by 11am she had something to eat. When her dad returned home from work, he could not get her up. He noticed she began frothing and mucus was leaking from her nose and mouth.” Giselle died en-route to Northdale Hospital. Soobiah said Tyreik was admitted on Friday after also displaying a fever. She said tests – including a lumbar puncture, which draws fluid from the spine – were done.
A family friend, Jeff Venkatas, said he had been chatting to Giselle’s mother when the child’s father had called. “He said Giselle was bleeding from the nose and mouth.”
Venkatas said Giselle had been a pleasant child and often opened the gate for him when he visited their home.
“She loved puzzles and always wanted me to help her put them together.”
In a circular sent to parents, acting principal S Naidoo said the school had consulted with two specialist physicians and was advised accordingly.
The GP who treated Giselle said she had normal flu-like symptoms and her condition did not raise alarm bells.
“She came in with a fever, which I can remember was about 38ºC. She also had a cough and nausea. Her lungs and other checks were normal.”
The spokesperson for the KZN Department of Health, Kwazi Mthethwa, said at this stage there was no cause for concern of a possible outbreak at the school.
Giselle’s friends and teachers attended her funeral on Monday.