"Missed strep throat diagnosis and complications"

I went to Karratha hospital emergency recently with an extremely sore throat which I could visually see white pus spots on my red raw throat.

I told the Doctor that myself and my family all had the flu and I voiced my concerns about having strep throat. The doctor had a quick look at my throat and told me I had pharyngitis and sent me home and told me to take panadol and nurophen.

2 days later I went back to emergency with chest pain in my lower right lung. I was assessed by a different doctor and had an ultrasound showing fluid on the right lung. My blood pressure became dangerously low and straight away the medical team were organising the royal flying doctors to take me to Perth.

I was admitted to ICU at a metropolitan hospital. I was diagnosed with Strep pneumonia and had chest drain tubes inserted.

The fluid in my lungs was not discharging and there were complications with the drain tube. I was sent to another metropolitan hospital for surgery to remove the infected and stubborn fluid in my lung.

I have been diagnosed with group A strep pneumonia, influenza B and parapneumonic effusion and parapneumonic empyema.

I had IV antibiotics for almost 4 weeks and at the time of writing this I am still not totally in the clear for infection.

I spent 3 weeks in hospital away from my 2 young children and my partner had to fly up twice to visit me.

To pick me up my partner had to drive with my 2 children, it had been over a month since I last saw my children.

My complaint is why was I not treated for strep throat when I first went to emergency, instead I recall I was quickly dismissed by the doctor.

I believe if I had have been treated for strep throat in the beginning I would not have had to go through this experience, which had been mentally and physically traumatic and also a financial burden on my family.

Thank you to the medical team that treated me the second time which I have no doubt saved my life.