Boy, 4 died of sepsis just hours after doctors sent him home twice with Calpol as hospital ‘deeply sorry’
All the symptoms of sepsis you need to know - and how it looks different in children and adults
THE heartbroken parents of a boy who died of sepsis after medics told them to go home and give him Calpol have received an apology and a financial settlement.
Daniel Klosi, four, died at the Royal Free Hospital in London’s Camden on April 2, 2023 after his symptoms were missed by doctors on three previous visits.
His mother, Lindita Alushi, 44, said the apology and settlement “can never make up for the death of a child”.
But she was “relieved” the hospital acknowledged mistakes were made in Daniel’s care, she told the .
Lindita and Daniel’s dad Kastriot Klosi, 51, rushed their son to the North London hospital four times during the week leading up to his sudden death.
On two of those trips, they were sent home and told to give the child Calpol and ibuprofen.
It was only after the family visited the hospital twice in one day and waiting for “hours” in A&E while Daniel “deteriorated” that he was admitted in April 2023.
Tragically, Daniel, from Kentish Town, died just a few hours later of sepsis.
Sepsis is when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs.
Investigators found staff did not read his medical records on one visit.
An inquest at East London Coroner’s Court in August heard that they did not order blood tests or give IV antibiotics, which is how sepsis is treated.
A spokesperson for the hospital said they were “deeply sorry that Daniel died while under our care”.
They said measures had been put in place to improve care in the future.
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has also agreed to pay the family an undisclosed out-of-court settlement.
The child was “probably” septic when he was seen by medical staff in the hours before he died, the inquest heard.
The coroner ruled that while doctors missed a sepsis diagnosis for Daniel, .
Lindita said that while the investigation into her son’s care had highlighted individual and systemic failures, “basically it was only one thing that led to Daniel’s death – we were not heard as parents”.
“Our concerns were dismissed,” she said.
“Observations were not taken and we were left to wait for hours, especially on the last visit even though Daniel was deteriorating in the waiting area.
“He was seen too late.”
During the inquest, the coroner noted Daniel, who had autism, came in with an “atypical presentation of sepsis” and there was a “lack of understanding” of how to view the needs of a neurodivergent child.
Lindita, who is a qualified doctor in her native Albania, said she hoped “lessons can be learned”.
“Such avoidable deaths should not be happening,” she added.
Lucy Macklin, a solicitor who represented Daniel’s parents, said the case was about getting “justice for Daniel”.
However, “no amount of money is ever going to bring a child back”.
She hoped the Royal Free London Trust would implement the measures raised by the coroner in her prevention of future deaths report.
Lindita added: “I think it’s important for people and parents in particular to be aware that not all the signs and symptoms [of sepsis] will show altogether.
“So if you have any concerns that it could be sepsis, you do need to seek emergency advice.
“And go to the doctors insist, and just ask, ‘could it be sepsis?’ Because it could make a difference.”
The Royal Free London Trust spokesperson told the BBC: “Following a thorough investigation, we identified a number of areas for improvement, and measures were taken to immediately address these.
“This included improving training and awareness for all of our staff, particularly in relation to children who repeatedly visit our emergency departments; how we care for children with learning disabilities; and the importance of listening to parents and carers when they raise concerns.”
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What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
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