MN: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/news/health/student-dies-from-flu-complications-185381211.html


Friends, family look for meaning after teen dies of flu complications
by JIM DOUGLAS
Bio | Email
WFAA
Posted on January 1, 2013 at 8:03 PM

FLOWER MOUND -- There is shock and grief in Flower Mound after a student's death from complications from the flu. The 17 year old fell ill and died suddenly while visiting family in Wisconsin.

On December 23, Max Schwolert played in the Wisconsin snow. On Dec. 29, he died. His family said the flu turned to pneumonia, followed by a swift and fatal staph infection.

"It really kind of hit him on the night of the 25th," said Max's aunt, Michelle Schwolert. "[We] took him to the hospital, and from there it was very quick. There was a point of no return."

The sudden death of the young, healthy athlete stunned...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Note...this article states he died in Minnesota, not Wisconsin
Source: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Flower-Mound-Teen-Dies-From-Complications-of-Flu-185391452.html


Flower Mound Teen Dies From Complications of Flu
By Ellen Goldberg
| Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013 | Updated 12:45 AM CST

...Max Schwolert, a senior at Flower Mound Marcus High School, died the day after Christmas during a family vacation in Minnesota...

..."It started out as the flu, then went to pneumonia and a staph infection on top of that, so those three things combined and just took over very quickly," said Michelle Schwolert, his aunt.

She described her nephew as the picture of health -- 6 feet 4 inches tall, young and athletic.

"He was a healthy child," she said. "You can?t beat yourself up. How many times has your child had a cold and you just wait it out?"...

 

[Emily]

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

I believe this is the Twitter feed of a cousin in Wisconsin whose family the victim was visiting when he got sick:

https://twitter.com/DevanJohnson6
"Dec 26
17 outta my 19 fam are sick #cough #fever #frail #weak #achy #puke #runs #pain"

"Dec 25
It's one big sick fest @ my Christmas celebration. 19 coughing, achey, sleepy bodies. #holidaytoremember"

Since when did influenza cause vomiting and diarrhea? Also the pattern of sudden onset hitting so many family members simultaneously doesn't seem to fit influenza, does it? Yet I'm not aware of a food poisoning pattern that includes coughing.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Source: http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news?fId=185464772&fPath=/news/local/&fDomain=10247

...Nationwide, 16 pediatric influenza deaths have been reported.

Not yet included in that tally is the death of 17-year-old Max Schwolert of Flower Mound. Schwolert died after a case of influenza progressed into a staph pneumonia.

It's "definitely associated with the flu," says Dr. Matt Bush, emergency room physician at Medical City Dallas Hospital, of the connection between staph and flu."And one of the more common reasons that a healthy person would die from the flu."

Bush says the influenza virus weakens the immune system in some people so that staphylococcus bacteria that exists naturally in the nose and mouth can more easily travel to the lungs and set up a deadly infection there.

Bush says no one knows who will be susceptible, but there are signs a routine flu case is taking a turn for the worse.

"If you have shortness of breath," says Bush. "You really shouldn't feel winded, like you've just gone out and exercised. If you're vomiting that's persistent and won't go away. Or if you're weak and lethargic..."

 

[Shiloh]

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Re: WI: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Source: http://www.flowermoundleader.com/articles/2013/01/02/flower_mound_leader/news/433.txt

Community comes together after death of Marcus student
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 6:53 PM CST

Coaches, students and members of the Flower Mound community are offering ways to show support following the death of 17-year-old Max Schwolert on Saturday night.

Max, a senior at Marcus High School, was visiting family in Wisconsin when he began experiencing flu symptoms on Christmas night. His condition worsened Dec. 26, and he was transported via CareFlite to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.

Family members said Max developed a staph infection as a result of the flu, which led to his death.

Now, the community is remembering a boy who many said had a big heart and a big sense of humor...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: MN: TX 17yr. old dies of flu complications(pneumonia/staph)

Source: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/apexchange/2013/01/03/mn--flu-death.html


Teen dies of flu complications in St. Paul
Thursday January 3, 2013 6:45 AM

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) ? Minnesota health officials say a teenager from Texas has died of complications of the flu...

...The state Department of Health confirmed the teen died of flu complications, the third flu death this season in Minnesota. Health officials predict it could be one of the worst flu seasons in years in Minnesota. More than 120 Minnesotans were hospitalized with the flu in the week ending Dec. 22, nearly twice the number of cases in the previous week.