Five-year-old went to the ER for a cold, but died 12 hours later

Potentially serious Strep A on the rise, public health warns

Five-year-old Quin Henderson came down with a cold during March break.

Quin had a cough and fever that improved, before returning even worse the next week.

The family doctor, the Ontario health line 811 and Quin’s mother, Christina Hecktus, all thought it was an average flu. But it turned out to be a serious illness.

By the end of the week, Hecktus had taken her daughter to the emergency department.

Quin died 12 hours later.

The animal lover with “the brightest spirit” died a month before her sixth birthday, after doctors found invasive Group A streptococcus had reached her bloodstream.

“I was definitely in shock,” said Hecktus.

Quin is one of five people in Waterloo Region to die this year from serious complications from the bacteria, which public health said is on the rise across North America.

The region has, on average, seen about 32 or 33 cases each year over the past five years.

In the first four months of 2023, there have been 21 confirmed cases of invasive Group A Strep in Waterloo Region.

“I do expect that to continue (to rise) until I see some signs that the number of cases is dropping off again,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, medical officer of health for Waterloo Region.

“We’ve sent out a notice to our doctors to let them know that we’re seeing more cases of invasive Group A strep and to just be aware of that.”

Doctors in the ER saw Quin within 15 minutes, running tests while she was put on an IV, and given antibiotics and oxygen.

She was diagnosed with pneumonia and sent to a Hamilton hospital to have the fluid drained from her lungs.

“We find out once we get there that she’s septic,” said Hecktus — a life-threatening medical emergency when the body has an

overwhelming immune response to an infection.

Quin died about an hour later. Group A streptococcus is a common bacteria that causes strep throat, sinus infections, skin or wound infections or fevers and rashes. It can lead to flesheating disease, like the infection that cost then-Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard his leg in 1994.

It is also possible for a person sick with Group A strep to have no symptoms. The bacteria is spread through respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze.

But when the illness gets into the bloodstream or deep tissue, it is described as invasive. Invasive group A streptococcus can be deadly.

Children, older people and those with compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to complications from the bacteria, said Wang.

Group A streptococcus is a reportable disease, which means local doctors are expected to report any cases to public health. These reports allow public health to track trends.

Wang said parents should continue to seek medical attention when they’re concerned about a child’s health or if severe symptoms arise, such as difficulty breathing or an inability to keep fluids down.

Children should stay home from school if they are sick, and parents should ensure their children are up-todate with childhood vaccines, particularly for chickenpox and influenza, which can increase the risk of invasive Group A streptococcus.

Although neither the family doctor nor 811 realized that Quin’s condition was severe, Hecktus said blame does not help anyone.

“People do what they can with the information they have at the time,” she said.

Both Wang and Hecktus had the same advice to parents who may be concerned about their child’s health.

“Trust your gut. That’s the only thing I want to tell parents — trust your gut,” said Hecktus.