Islington Tribune - Allergy | Deja Hay

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Islington Tribune - by SARA NEWMAN
Published: 12 September 2008

Boy with dairy allergy died after sipping carton of juice

Hospital reviews procedures as tragedy stresses need to carry medication

A SEVEN -year-old boy allergic to dairy products died after drinking a carton of juice containing milk, an inquest heard on Tuesday.
Deja Hay was rushed to a pharmacy when he began hyperventilating within moments of taking the pineapple and coconut juice drink while with his mother Elizabeth in Holloway Road, Holloway. His mother had not noticed that milk was listed among the contents on the back of the carton.
With the help of Zamall Miah, a pharmacist at Superdrug in Seven Sisters Road, Ms Hay gave her son an EpiPen adrenaline injection, used to combat life-threatening allergic reactions.
Community paediatrician Dr Anthony Wheeler told the St Pancras inquest that Ms Hay’s “brave” attempts to save her son by carrying him to the pharmacy had been a “good thing”.
But he added: “The only way to carry him was the piggy-back position, meaning he was in a head-up position. We always advise to put the child on the floor to improve circulation. The head-up position would have worked against him. By no means is this a criticism and I would probably have done the same thing myself.”
Deja, of Georges Road, Holloway, suffered from eczema, asthma and sickle cell disease.
Whittington Hospital consultant paediatrician Dr Heather Mackinnon said the situation was hopeless when the boy arrived at the Archway hospital on April 26. “I had to advise his mother we were unable to continue resuscitation,” she said. “He probably died literally within a few minutes of ingestion.”
Patients with severe allergies are advised to keep an EpiPen with them at all times.
Dr Mackinnon said the hospital had looked at its procedures following the tragedy. “We should hold a proper allergy clinic with a clinical nurse specialising in allergies and children like Deja should also have an annual review, stressing the importance of carrying the EpiPen,” she added.
Hazel Garland, food adviser for the Anaphylaxis Campaign, claimed that manufacturer Rubicon had in the past distributed the drink without making it clear it contained milk.
Presenting Rubicon’s argument in the firm’s absence, coroner Dr Andrew Reid said: “The company have been alerted to the inquest and indicate they have had no concerns about the labelling of their product. If they were here they would advise that customers should read the label.”
Ms Garland responded: “Food providers are also responsible for safety. You can’t be in the food industry and not know about allergies nowadays.”
Dr Reid is to write to the Child Death Overview Panel outlining his concern that the Food Standards Agency and food industry agree on issues of labelling.
He said: “My conclusion is that Deja Hay died of natural causes to which accidentally being given cows’ milk contributed.”

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