8-month-old baby dies with covid and dengue in DF; mother points out negligence

An 8-month-old baby died due to complications from dengue fever and Covid-19. The death occurred on Wednesday (28/2), but the case only came to light this Saturday (2/3). The mother, Gabriella Alves, 32 years old, says that she went to several public hospitals in the Federal District in search of care in the last week, but, according to her, her daughter was always released. On Wednesday, baby Helena Alves died at home, in her mother’s arms, in Planaltina.

Gabriella spoke with the Mail and said that it all started last Sunday (25/2). “We were at a relative’s house when, suddenly, a fever came on. As her teeth were coming in, I thought it was because of that,” she commented. “But she started complaining a lot and Helena never had a fever of 39ºC”, pondered the mother.

She took little Helena to the Planaltina Regional Hospital (HRP) where, according to Gabriella, it was full. “We just went through the screening. She had an episode of vomiting, but since she didn’t have a fever, the doctor sent me home. They didn’t tell me about Covid,” she highlighted.

The next day, she took her daughter to a basic health unit (UBS) in Planaltina. “There, I received excellent care and they did a rapid dengue test on my daughter. The doctor also advised me to do a blood count, to find out what the platelets were like,” she praised.

However, according to Gabriella, when she arrived at the private clinic, she was “a little desperate” as soon as she discovered that the exam would only be ready at night. “I went to Sobradinho Hospital, as I thought the service would be good. When I got there, as she didn’t have a fever, they didn’t help me. They put an orange bracelet on my daughter and we waited seven hours,” she complained.

Helena’s mother said she only got care after speaking to the hospital director. “The doctor ordered a blood count, gave serum, but said she wouldn’t keep my daughter hospitalized because she had no fever, was urinating and, therefore, understood that there was nothing,” she said. “But my daughter had red eyes, because of dengue fever, and was very weak,” she said.

On Tuesday (27/2), Gabriella took her daughter to the UBS again, but this time, she claims she did not receive effective care. “They didn’t give my daughter the serum. I had to buy everything: serum, paracetamol and dipyrone. At around 6pm, she had an episode of vomiting, but it was because she had eaten a pear,” she commented. “At night, she vomited six times, however, as much as she vomited, she drank milk and water. She felt crazy thirsty and didn’t have a fever,” she noted.

Death

According to Gabriella, things got worse at the beginning of Wednesday (28/2). “In the early hours of the morning, I stayed up all night with my daughter in the stroller. She was not moaning and her temperature was normal. When it was morning, she was very soft,” she recalled. “I went to give her a bath and realized that her extremities were cold, I tried to give her milk and she didn’t want it anymore. She died in my arms”, lamented Helena’s mother.

She said that she even went to Planaltina Hospital, in an attempt to revive Helena. “The team there provided complete support, they put an oximeter on her, but my daughter was no longer responding. They spent an hour trying to revive her, giving her 10 doses of adrenaline,” she said. “If there was a mistake, it was at Sobradinho Hospital. At Planaltina Hospital, I was very well supported, even though the hospital was overcrowded,” she added.

The report from the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) pointed out that, in addition to dengue fever, little Helena also died from covid-19.

The baby’s funeral took place on Thursday (29/2), at the Planaltina Cemetery. Due to Covid-19, the mother says that her daughter’s burial had to take place with a closed coffin.

Answers

In a statement, the Department of Health (SES-DF) said that Helena underwent screening at the Planaltina Regional Hospital, where she received a green classification, in accordance with the risk classification protocol. According to the folder, the hospital, at the time of the service, was on a red flag, “that is, prioritizing the most serious cases, with a risk of death”.

When looking for the Sobradinho Regional Hospital, the baby underwent screening, was welcomed and evaluated, receiving hydration, still in accordance with SES-DF. “(She) was discharged from the hospital, as there were no clinical or outpatient changes at that time that would indicate hospitalization. The family was advised to maintain oral hydration and to return to a health unit if there was any change in the clinical status” , highlighted the note.

As the condition progressed, according to the secretariat, the family returned to Planaltina Hospital, where the child was admitted with cardiac arrest. “Resuscitation maneuvers were initiated but, unfortunately, she did not respond to the procedures”, lamented the text. “The folder clarifies that the death is being evaluated by the death investigation committee of the North Health region”, concluded the note from the Health Department.