5-year-old dies of bacterial infection after doctors misdiagnosed it as common cold

The five-year-old died after several complications and donated three organs. (Representational)

A family in Australia has been left devastated after their 5-year-old daughter died of Strep A, initially diagnosed as just a common cold. Cathy Kassis's illness took a sinister twist when it was discovered that she had fallen victim to Strep A, a bacterium notorious for causing respiratory and skin infections, ranging from mild to severe even though doctors initially attributed her symptoms to a simple viral infection.

The anguish of Cathy's parents, Jazz Worobez and Justin Sutton, intensified as their concerns grew with her deteriorating health.

Justin Sutton recounted the ordeal to local channels. "After three days she had lost her voice completely, so we were obviously a bit concerned," he told 7News. But, he explained, the medical advice remained consistent – it was merely a viral infection that needed to run its course.

However, as Cathy struggled to breathe, the gravity of the situation became apparent. Rushed to the hospital, the family received a disheartening déjà vu as they were again told it was a viral infection.

Disheartened, they returned home, only for a horrifying moment to unfold when Cathy's lips turned blue on August 28. Her mother immediately called for an ambulance, and in her arms, Cathy's condition worsened.

Sutton performed CPR while awaiting the arrival of paramedics who then set up a defibrillator. Cathy was then airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital, but the ordeal had taken an irreversible toll. Seventy-eight agonizing minutes later, Cathy was pronounced brain dead.

The coroner's revelation that Strep A was the cause of Cathy's demise further compounded the family's grief. The five-year-old donated three organs. "She epitomizes a real-life superhero," he said, "and not many people can say that."

The family now wishes to raise awareness about this insidious threat. "It could've been treated with just a normal course of antibiotics," Sutton lamented, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's instincts when something doesn't feel right.

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Strep A claims the lives of 50,000 people worldwide each year and afflicts around 750 million individuals. Australia is currently grappling with a surge in cases among children, as revealed in a study published in the Lancet Regional Health.

Between July 2018 and December 2022, three children tragically lost their lives due to Strep A complications. The study found that 84 young patients out of 280 admitted to major Australian pediatric hospitals experienced severe complications, including toxic shock and necrotizing diseases, New York Post reported.