Suspected diphtheria after death of 4-year-old girl in Palermo; child had not been vaccinated

A 4-year-old child died overnight at the Pediatric Hospital of Palermo, Italy. Doctors suspect that diphtheria may have been the cause, an extremely rare infection in Italy that can be fatal in severe cases.

There is still no definitive confirmation of the cause of death. For this reason, the Palermo Prosecutor’s Office has ordered an autopsy to clarify the circumstances and determine whether medical procedures were properly followed.

The girl was brought to Cervello Hospital on Saturday evening in very serious condition. After being immediately intubated, she was transferred to the Pediatric Hospital’s intensive care unit, but despite the doctors’ efforts, she died overnight.

“We did everything possible to save the child from the moment we received her. Unfortunately, we did not achieve the result we had hoped for,” said Domenico Cipolla, the medical director of Civico Hospital.

Initial tests conducted by the health authorities have raised suspicions of diphtheria. However, a definitive answer is expected only after the Italian National Institute of Health completes the remaining tests.

One of the circumstances being examined is the girl’s lack of vaccination. According to publicly released information, her parents had told doctors that they had chosen not to continue the vaccination process.

This decision was reportedly linked to fears of a possible connection between vaccines and autism, following a case of autism identified in the family.

The Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the reasons that led to the child not being vaccinated, as well as whether the established procedures were followed. The autopsy and microbiological examinations are expected to provide a definitive answer regarding the cause of death.

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Some variants of the bacterium produce a powerful toxin that can severely damage tissues and vital organs.

When it affects the respiratory system, the infection can affect the throat, nose and tonsils, causing fever, sore throat and difficulty breathing. A typical sign is the formation of a gray membrane in the throat.

In more severe cases, this membrane can block the airways. Diphtheria toxin can also affect the heart and nervous system, causing serious complications.

The infection is usually spread through close contact with an infected person and, less commonly, through objects contaminated with secretions.

Routine vaccination has made diphtheria a very rare disease in Italy today. Data from the Higher Institute of Health show that three cases of toxigenic C. diphtheriae were identified in 2022, all of them imported.

Two of them were cases of cutaneous diphtheria, while the other case showed signs affecting both the respiratory system and the skin.

Despite its rarity, diphtheria remains a significant threat to people who have not been vaccinated.