Sudden death associated with group A streptococcal infection in an 8-year-old girl with undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
An 8-year-old girl died suddenly without prior symptoms. Post-mortem examination identified both systemic group A streptococcal infection and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. She had no history of cardiac symptoms and was not in a high-risk group for sudden death due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We believe the disseminated but asymptomatic group A streptococcal infection precipitated her early death from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Sudden unexpected death during systemic infection should be followed by post-mortem examination to look for evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as this diagnosis has genetic implications for other family members.
Bragonier
R
R
Paediatric Department, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, UK.
Oades
P
P
D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes