A 12-year-old girl has tragically died after being sent home by doctors.
Azzurra Breda was taken to a paediatric A&E department after developing a fever and breathing difficulties.
Doctors who examined her diagnosed a simple bout of flu and discharged her.
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After returning to her home in Sant’Angelo di Piove di Sacco – south-east of Padua, Italy – her condition deteriorated, with her temperature rising to 40C.
The following day, her concerned parents took her back to A&E, where she was immediately admitted to intensive care.
She died from pneumonia at 10am on 31 December – two days after first going to hospital.
An investigation has been launched.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today (12 Jan), as reported by Need To Know.
Azzurra practised dance, had been playing the piano for four years and achieved excellent results at school.
According to her parents, Valentina and Mattia, she was sporty, full of energy and had no pre-existing medical conditions.
She had also passed sports medical examinations in October with excellent results.
She is survived by her parents and a younger sister.
Mayor Guido Carlin paid tribute, saying: “She was a well-known and much-loved girl – quiet, polite and actively involved in village life and in initiatives organised by the council.
“As well as playing the piano, she sang in the children’s choir at the parish church of St Michael the Archangel.
“She attended the lower secondary school at our comprehensive institute. I had seen her in class shortly before Christmas – I stopped by to greet the pupils – and what struck me most was her smile.”
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