Texas girl, 4 years old, dies of flu

GARLAND, Texas –

A Texan family is mourning after the death of an otherwise healthy 4 year old child, following flu and pneumonia just days after the onset of the first symptoms.

Ashtani Grinage is the first infant-related death of the flu season in Dallas County, according to media reports.

The girl began to have cold-like symptoms on January 27, said Martell Grinage, Ashanti's father. When Ashanti's symptoms worsened and her fever reached 103 degrees, her parents took her to an emergency room.

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The tests revealed that the girl had the type of influenza A. She had not been vaccinated.

Hospital staff sent Ashanti home after her fever subsided and recommended over-the-counter medications for control, Martell Grinage told KDFW-TV. On Wednesday, the girl had no fever, but had other mild symptoms.

On Thursday, Ashanti had become extremely lethargic. Her mother brought her back to the hospital.

"She did not even have a fever at that time, we just knew she was very slow and she was not eating," said Grinich.

The doctors discovered that Ashanti had developed pneumonia to the lungs. She died in the hospital.

"I'm angry at myself, I'm angry at everyone, I'm angry at the hospital, I'm angry at God, I can not lie to you," said Martell Grinery. local media.

A Go Me fund has been created for the Grinage family.

Dr. Christopher Perkins of Dallas County Health and Social Services urges those who have not yet done so to be vaccinated against the flu, KTVT-TV reported.

"We can not predict the intensity, severity or duration of the flu season from one year to the next," Perkins said. "The best way to protect yourself and others is to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu."

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