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Changes after toddler death

A toddler died after a second trip to the ER following a misdiagnosis.

The three-year-old girl had an aggressive bacterial infection, not pneumonia as her family was told. She died five hours after arriving in the ER for the second time in two days.

Her parents brought her to the ER, but staff told them to treat her with Tylenol or Advil every few hours.

Nimrat Gill died Feb. 7 at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, after what initially seemed to be a cold quickly worsened.

After her death, their family doctor received the X-rays taken while the tot was still alive, and they were told Nimrat had a severe case of pneumonia that caused further infections.

But nearly two months after the girl's death, the Fraser Health Authority released an update on its investigation into her case.

Officials said the BC Coroners Service will make a formal determination of cause of death when its independent review is complete, but that Fraser Health's lab tests suggest she had a bacterial infection.

Nimrat had a fast-moving, aggressive form of Group A streptococcal disease. The bacteria is common, and easily transmitted through contact with a person who is infected, or their saliva or mucous.

As a result of Nimrat's death, Fraser Health is taking six actions, including sepsis screening for all pediatric patients regardless of symptoms, and implementing regular simulation training on what to do in pediatric emergencies.

- with files from CTV



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