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Brain Virus Kills Woman After Docs Misdiagnosed Condition as Depression

May 10, 2011 11:39 AM EDT

A British woman died from a rare brain virus after being told by doctors that

she was simply depressed because she had not had a baby, a coroner's

investigation heard.

Jane Harrop, 30, went to the hospital in February last year with severe head and

neck pains after collapsing suddenly but was told she had a migraine, the

Birmingham Mail reported Tuesday.

In the months leading up to her collapse, Harrop complained of violent headaches

nine times to doctors, who gave her antidepressants and did not refer her for

tests, Birmingham Coroner's Court heard.

" The [doctor] thought she was depressed because she was trying for a baby and

hadn't had one. Jane was a happy-go-lucky character -- I didn't think she was

depressed. She said her brain felt like it was being crushed, " according to

Harrop's mother, Cook.

Harrop, who cared for multiple sclerosis patients in their homes, died eight

days after she was taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, where a

brain scan was delayed for five days because she felt claustrophobic and staff

had no way of sedating her.

She was not transferred to a specialized brain unit at a nearby hospital because

of a lack of beds, the court was told.

Pathologist Dr. Carey said Harrop's death was caused by inflammation of

the brain and spine by a virus that took hold over a period of at least two

months. Headaches are the first sign of sub-acute meningo-myeloencephalitis,

Carey added.

Another patient on the ward, , said nurses ignored Harrop's screams of

pain during her final night alive.

" She was screaming in pain and shouting for help, but no one came to her, " said

. " I was disgusted at the way the poor woman was left. "

The inquest continues.

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http://health.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=31737 & content=51715578 & pageNum=-1

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> Brain Virus Kills Woman After Docs Misdiagnosed Condition as Depression

>

> May 10, 2011 11:39 AM EDT

>

> A British woman died from a rare brain virus after being told by doctors that

she was simply depressed because she had not had a baby, a coroner's

investigation heard.

>

> Jane Harrop, 30, went to the hospital in February last year with severe head

and neck pains after collapsing suddenly but was told she had a migraine, the

Birmingham Mail reported Tuesday.

>

> In the months leading up to her collapse, Harrop complained of violent

headaches nine times to doctors, who gave her antidepressants and did not refer

her for tests, Birmingham Coroner's Court heard.

>

> " The [doctor] thought she was depressed because she was trying for a baby and

hadn't had one. Jane was a happy-go-lucky character -- I didn't think she was

depressed. She said her brain felt like it was being crushed, " according to

Harrop's mother, Cook.

>

> Harrop, who cared for multiple sclerosis patients in their homes, died eight

days after she was taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, where a

brain scan was delayed for five days because she felt claustrophobic and staff

had no way of sedating her.

>

> She was not transferred to a specialized brain unit at a nearby hospital

because of a lack of beds, the court was told.

>

> Pathologist Dr. Carey said Harrop's death was caused by inflammation of

the brain and spine by a virus that took hold over a period of at least two

months. Headaches are the first sign of sub-acute meningo-myeloencephalitis,

Carey added.

>

> Another patient on the ward, , said nurses ignored Harrop's screams

of pain during her final night alive.

>

> " She was screaming in pain and shouting for help, but no one came to her, "

said . " I was disgusted at the way the poor woman was left. "

>

> The inquest continues.

> Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

>