Tragic Misdiagnosis: New Father Dies from Epiglottitis After Being Told He Had Tonsillitis

A 29-year-old new father, Michael Reynolds, died of a hypoxic cardiac arrest just one day after being misdiagnosed with tonsillitis by his general practitioner. The incident occurred in Boston, Lincolnshire, UK, in late November 2023, highlighting a critical "missed opportunity" for emergency referral that could have saved his life, according to an inquest. Reynolds, a truck driver and father to a young son named Jacob, sought medical help for a persistent cough and sore throat but was sent home with antibiotics, only to collapse the next morning due to severe swelling in his throat caused by epiglottitis—a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection.

Michael Reynolds first contacted his GP on November 29, 2023, reporting a cough lasting two to three months, along with a sore and swollen throat. He was prescribed a steroid nasal spray and referred for a chest X-ray. However, his condition rapidly worsened overnight. The following day, he returned for an urgent in-person appointment with a different doctor, describing severe symptoms including difficulty swallowing, a sensation of his throat closing up, high fever, and the need to spit saliva into a bowl because he couldn't swallow it.

Despite these alarming signs, he was diagnosed with tonsillitis, inflammation of the tonsils and given oral antibiotics. The inquest later revealed that the GP failed to provide "robust advice" to seek emergency care at the hospital, where staff might have recognized the symptoms of epiglottitis more readily. Reynolds and his wife, Charlotte, collected the prescription from the pharmacy and returned home, unaware of the escalating danger.

On the morning of December 1, 2023, Reynolds suffered a seizure and collapsed at home. Charlotte called for an ambulance, and he was rushed to the hospital, but he succumbed to cardiac arrest later that day. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as hypoxic cardiac arrest, triggered by a lack of oxygen from upper airway obstruction due to epiglottitis.

It's crucial to note that epiglottitis symptoms can mimic tonsillitis but progress rapidly; key differences include severe swallowing pain, drooling, and breathing difficulties, often necessitating intubation or antibiotics in a controlled setting to avoid fatal outcomes like those seen here.

An inquest at Lincolnshire Coroner's Court in December 2023 confirmed a "missed opportunity" to refer Reynolds to the emergency room (ER), where he could have been transferred to resuscitation earlier. The coroner noted that ER staff are typically more familiar with rare conditions like epiglottitis, potentially allowing for life-saving treatment.

Reynolds' family, represented by the law firm Irwin Mitchell, has initiated an investigation into the medical negligence surrounding his care.

Charlotte Reynolds, now raising their 3-year-old son Jacob alone, shared her grief: "Watching Jacob grow up without his daddy by his side is devastating and we miss Michael every single day. Michael meant everything to us and losing him has left a huge hole in our lives that will never go away. We'd do anything to bring him back."

She added, "All I can hope for now is that by sharing our story, it can lead to improvements in care for others and more awareness around the signs of epiglottitis and the need for emergency treatment, as it's something I'd never even heard of before. I wouldn't want anyone going through what we have."

Understanding hypoxic cardiac arrest, heart stoppage due to oxygen deprivation, is vital.

Immediate actions include calling emergency services, performing CPR, and using an AED if available. Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), a common cause of epiglottitis, is recommended, especially for children, though adults like Reynolds can still be at risk from other bacteria. Prompt ER visits for severe throat symptoms could prevent similar tragedies.

(Rh/Eth/MKB)