A 24-year-old woman died of sepsis just weeks after developing cold symptoms, her heartbroken family has revealed.
Bethannie Booth, of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, originally had a sore throat, fever and headache.
The primary school worker then developed red bumps on her face, which NHS 111 reportedly dismissed as being due to acne.
It wasn’t until days later that she started experiencing breathing difficulties that she was advised to go to the hospital, where doctors discovered her lung had collapsed due to Strep A infection, her family says.
Despite doctors initially thinking she was recovering after weeks in hospital, Ms Booth developed ‘uncontrollable’ sepsis – a complication of the bacterial infection.
She died on March 31. Her family is now urging people to be aware of the signs of sepsis.
Bethannie Booth, from Merthyr Tydfil, was put into a coma when she developed sepsis after contracting Strep A
Strep A, known medically as Group A Streptococcus or Group A Strep, can cause a range of infections, including strep throat, tonsillitis, and impetigo.
Symptoms can include flu-like symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, and body aches, as well as skin rashes and scabs and sores.
Most infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. In severe cases, however, the bacteria can cause pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome, as well as sepsis.
Sepsis occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection and begins to attack the body’s own tissues and organs.
Ms Booth, named Betts by her family, contacted NHS 111 on March 2 to discuss her symptoms, which included a cold and flu-like illness and red bumps on her face.
However, she called back a few days later complaining of breathing difficulties and was advised to go to hospital.
When Ms Booth arrived at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, South Wales, she was taken straight to the ICU, where doctors found her lung had collapsed due to a Strep A infection and other organs were failing.
It’s unclear how her lung collapsed. But one complication of Strep A is pneumonia, which can cause the organ to collapse.
Ms Booth fell into a coma before being transferred to St Guy’s and Thomas Hospital in London.
She spent more than two weeks on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) device, which provides respiratory support to people who cannot breathe on their own.
During her stay in St. Guy’s and St. Thomas, she also underwent surgery to repair a hole in her lung.
Medics said she had made good progress while on the ECMO machine and was transferred back to the Royal Glamorgan.
Her father Wayne Booth said doctors had told the family it was ‘very unlikely’ she would die at that stage, but warned she had a long recovery ahead of her.
Ms Booth sent her parents, Wayne and Leanne Booth, above, final messages while they were in hospital
However, five days after her return to the Royal Glamorgan, Ms Booth developed sepsis – what medics describe as ‘uncontrollable’.
She died surrounded by her parents Wayne and Leanne and her two sisters Nia-Ffion and Megan.
Ms Booth’s sister, Megan, said that before her sister fell into a coma, she sent her older sister Nia-Ffion a message saying she thought she was going to die, and also giving instructions for what she wanted on her funeral.
She also sent final messages to her parents while she was in the hospital.
Her father said, “There’s only one way I can explain it Beth—imagine the best woman having the biggest angel wings, who would do anything for anyone—from a man living on the street to a man in a mansion.”
“She was so loved — the kids [in her school] loved her, our grandchildren loved her. They say the best is taken from us first – God needs his angels.
“It tore us all apart.”
Ms Booth’s mother, Leanne, added: “She’s a character, but she’s the best friend you could ever have.”
a GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for funeral costs, which has raised over £6,500 to date.