The Dent County Coroner’s Office requested an investigation March 1 into a death that occurred in the emergency department at Salem Memorial District Hospital, according to a press release from the Dent County Coroner’s Office.
The release states a minor child, 14 years old, was pronounced deceased by the on-call physician in the emergency department. At this time, the report states there is no suspicion of foul play, and the cause of death appears to be from a medical condition.
Due to the decedent being a minor child, an autopsy was performed by the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to a report from deputy coroner Ben Pursifull March 3, a preliminary report identified a host of medical conditions as the preliminary cause of death including, Subdural Empyema, most likely caused by a severe Streptococcus infection, Sepsis, and Flu B. At this time these results are not final as the coroners office has requested specific forensic blood testing to be performed, said the release.