Clarification
BMJ 2008; 337 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a2069 (Published 13 October 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2069
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In July this year, Audrey Gillan, a senior reporter for the Guardian,
wrote of the sad story of baby Christopher Blum, who died in June 1987 at
the age of four months. His body remained in a London mortuary for 21
years because his parents refused to register his death.
Audrey Gillan wrote,
"Christopher's father Steve found him dead in his sleepsuit as he lay
in his bedroom, with his hands bunched up to his face and with dried blood
around his nose. A pathologist said the cause of death was sudden infant
death syndrome (Sids) but because Christopher had been given a triple
vaccination hours before his death his parents have refused to accept
this. They are convinced the jabs were related to his death and have
resisted burial so that further investigations could be made."
As it happens, the importance of the infantile nosebleed was
highlighted in research published late last year in the American journal
'Pediatrics'. [2] The research paper concluded that,
“Epistaxis is rare in the accident and emergency department and
hospital in the first 2 years of life and is often associated with injury
or serious illness. The investigation of all cases should involve a
pediatrician with expertise in child protection.” [2]
Christopher Blum and Christopher Clark died from a rare, undetermined
disorder, heralded by nose bleeding. The proper investigation and accurate
diagnosis of such serious illness is necessary for the future protection
of all children and their families.
[1] Baby in mortuary since 1987 to be buried by council. Audrey
Gillan. The Guardian, Monday July 28 2008.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/28/children.health
[2] Epidemiology of Oronasal Hemorrhage in the First 2 Years of Life:
Implications for Child Protection. Neil McIntosh, DSc(Med), Jacqueline
Y.Q. Mok, MB, ChB, MD and Adrian Margerison, MB, MA, BChir. PEDIATRICS
Vol. 120 No. 5 November 2007, pp. 1074-1078 (doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2097).
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/120/5/1074
Competing interests:
A professional against child abuse just as much as any non-professional
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: The baby, the serious illness and the bloody nose
Dr Mark Struthers points out that Christopher Blum and Christopher
Clark died from a rare undetermined disorder heralded by nose bleeding and
the proper investigation and accurate diagnosis of such illness is
necessary for the future protection of all children and their families.
Nose bleeds at this age are “herald lesions” which indicate a
disorder of haemostasis.
The particular investigations required in these cases are those for
the detection of Vitamin C deficiency (1) and an abnormality or
deficiency of Vitamin K (2).
One hopes that with a better understanding of the essentials of
haemostasis and osteogenesis there will be fewer undetermined disorders of
this nature.
References
1. Clemetson CAB. Child abuse or Barlow’s disease? Pediat Internt
2003;45:758.
2.Innis MD Vitamin K Deficiency Disease. Jour Orthomol Med 2008; 23:
15-20
Competing interests:
I am the author of one of the references.
Competing interests: No competing interests