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Source: http://www.heraldtribune.com/articl...y-looks-for-answers-in-baby-s-swine-flu-death
Family looks for answers in baby's swine flu death
North Port 10-month-old Jasmine Raniero died last week from the H1N1 virus.
By Anna Scott
Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10:36 p.m.
The 10-month-old baby girl who died of swine flu last week visited a doctor two days before her death, the infant's family members said.
But she was not found to have the H1N1 swine flu virus and the baby was not given the antiviral medication Tamiflu used to treat flu symptoms, according to her uncle.
The baby, Jasmine Raniero of North Port, saw a pediatrician on Sept. 30 and was prescribed a steroid and continued use of a nebulizer, according to her family. The baby had breathing problems and had been hospitalized for them in the spring.
But the next day, Jasmine's 5-year-old brother, with whom she lived, was found to have swine flu and began taking Tamiflu, the family said. The day after that, when Jasmine had stopped eating and drinking, she was rushed to Peace River Regional Medical Center in Port Charlotte. She died there later that day.
The family did not learn until this week, when an official state test came back, that the baby had swine flu like her brother. They recently hired a lawyer to try to figure out what happened and whether Jasmine was treated properly.
"We want to look at records, listen to the coroner and then form our impressions about whether this was preventable," said Ken McKenna, a personal injury lawyer from Orlando representing the Ranieros.
McKenna said that based on the limited information he has so far, which has come mostly from talking to Jasmine's mother, the baby was given a flu test by her doctor and it initially came back negative.
Jasmine's mother, Eva Raniero, did not return a phone message. Steve Raniero, her brother who lives in Brevard County, said his sister is too grief-stricken to talk publicly. Another one of her children has since come down with the flu, too, he said.
"We were shocked," Steve Raniero said. "Knowing one of the brothers had swine flu, maybe they should have gone after it in a more aggressive way. You take these doctors at their word. Maybe it's not their fault. I don't know yet. We're just absolutely heartbroken."
Jasmine was the fourth child under age 4 to die in Florida since the new H1N1 swine flu virus began circulating this spring. All of the children had underlying health conditions, according to state health department statistics. Jasmine did not attend a day care facility, Raniero said, and was cared for at home.
Tamiflu is normally not recommended for children younger than 1, but the Food and Drug Administration has authorized it for the treatment of swine flu in infants because they are at high risk for complications from the virus.
The drug decreases the length a person will experience symptoms by about one day. Some studies of Tamiflu on people hospitalized with seasonal flu have shown it results in fewer deaths.
Jasmine's pediatrician, Dr. Beverly Anarumo, declined to talk about the case and cited patient privacy laws. She cried during a brief phone interview Friday.
"I'm sorry to hear things are very hard for them," said Anarumo, who practices in Port Charlotte. "My heart is so broken by the whole thing. If they wish to say bad things, you know what, God bless them. My heart's just broken. That's all I can say."
Family looks for answers in baby's swine flu death
North Port 10-month-old Jasmine Raniero died last week from the H1N1 virus.
By Anna Scott
Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10:36 p.m.
The 10-month-old baby girl who died of swine flu last week visited a doctor two days before her death, the infant's family members said.
But she was not found to have the H1N1 swine flu virus and the baby was not given the antiviral medication Tamiflu used to treat flu symptoms, according to her uncle.
The baby, Jasmine Raniero of North Port, saw a pediatrician on Sept. 30 and was prescribed a steroid and continued use of a nebulizer, according to her family. The baby had breathing problems and had been hospitalized for them in the spring.
But the next day, Jasmine's 5-year-old brother, with whom she lived, was found to have swine flu and began taking Tamiflu, the family said. The day after that, when Jasmine had stopped eating and drinking, she was rushed to Peace River Regional Medical Center in Port Charlotte. She died there later that day.
The family did not learn until this week, when an official state test came back, that the baby had swine flu like her brother. They recently hired a lawyer to try to figure out what happened and whether Jasmine was treated properly.
"We want to look at records, listen to the coroner and then form our impressions about whether this was preventable," said Ken McKenna, a personal injury lawyer from Orlando representing the Ranieros.
McKenna said that based on the limited information he has so far, which has come mostly from talking to Jasmine's mother, the baby was given a flu test by her doctor and it initially came back negative.
Jasmine's mother, Eva Raniero, did not return a phone message. Steve Raniero, her brother who lives in Brevard County, said his sister is too grief-stricken to talk publicly. Another one of her children has since come down with the flu, too, he said.
"We were shocked," Steve Raniero said. "Knowing one of the brothers had swine flu, maybe they should have gone after it in a more aggressive way. You take these doctors at their word. Maybe it's not their fault. I don't know yet. We're just absolutely heartbroken."
Jasmine was the fourth child under age 4 to die in Florida since the new H1N1 swine flu virus began circulating this spring. All of the children had underlying health conditions, according to state health department statistics. Jasmine did not attend a day care facility, Raniero said, and was cared for at home.
Tamiflu is normally not recommended for children younger than 1, but the Food and Drug Administration has authorized it for the treatment of swine flu in infants because they are at high risk for complications from the virus.
The drug decreases the length a person will experience symptoms by about one day. Some studies of Tamiflu on people hospitalized with seasonal flu have shown it results in fewer deaths.
Jasmine's pediatrician, Dr. Beverly Anarumo, declined to talk about the case and cited patient privacy laws. She cried during a brief phone interview Friday.
"I'm sorry to hear things are very hard for them," said Anarumo, who practices in Port Charlotte. "My heart is so broken by the whole thing. If they wish to say bad things, you know what, God bless them. My heart's just broken. That's all I can say."