Family agony as daughter, two, dies two days after being sent home from hospital on antibiotics for tonsillitis

A TODDLER tragically died just two days after being sent home from hospital with antibiotics, an inquest has found.

Wyatt Rose Wheeler, two, was diagnosed with tonsillitis when her breathing became labored and she seemed to be “sucking in her ribs”.

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But when she returned home to Newport, her parents noticed she was “shallow breathing” and was “falling in and out of sleep.”

The teen was tragically found dead two days later on November 6, 2020 after being discovered unresponsive in her bedroom.

An investigation found a medical cause of death was given as viral bronchiolitis.

The hearing was told that her parents, Sean and Laura Wheeler, initially thought Wyatt had a cold and gave her Calpol when she became ill.

After she started breathing and started “staring into space,” they called her GP, then 999 when they were told a doctor couldn’t see her.

Paramedic Robert Huish described Wyatt as “very pale” and said her lips were swollen and she had a runny nose.

The teenager was also “pale, lethargic, but conscious”, but could speak calmly.

Mr Huish added: “Personally, I had not seen a sick child like Wyatt for a long time,” Mr Huish’s statement said.

But the hearing was told while medics were in the house, a neighbor next door appeared and asked her to check on her husband, who had collapsed.

After it was discovered he was in cardiac arrest, it was decided to take Wyatt to Royal Gwent Hospital in the family car.

dr Owain Davies, who examined the toddler upon her arrival, said he “didn’t hear any wheezing or crackling” but saw “swelling” on both tonsils.

He told the inquest: “My diagnosis was acute tonsillitis.

“At that time there was no evidence of respiratory disease.

“When I was examining Wyatt, I did a thorough respiratory exam.

“I had no doubt that there was a serious underlying condition and for that reason I decided to discharge Wyatt to her home with antibiotics prescribed.”

Wyatt was given a course of penicillin and sent home, where her condition worsened.

Her father said: “We were told all the time that everything was normal.

“Everything seemed fine was the reply we kept getting.”

Her parents found she was unresponsive and began resuscitation, but unfortunately she could not be saved.

Caroline Saunders, Chief Medical Examiner for Gwent, recorded the conclusion of a death of natural causes.

She said: “Wyatt was a two-year-old girl and had a history of respiratory problems consistent with a child her age.”

“Wyatt Rose Wheeler died at her home address on November 6, 2020 of complications from viral bronchiolitis. The conclusion is recorded as a death from natural causes.”

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