A CORONER has called on all pregnant and breastfeeding women to take vitamin D following the death of a Harrow baby.
Three-month-old Milind Agarwal, who had an abnormal heart valve, died in July of a septic inflammation of his heart after being rushed to Northwick Park Hospital.
His parents initially took the baby to a GP when he showed symptoms of a viral infection but he was sent home with saline nasal drops, and later the couple were told to give him paracetamol.
But Coroner Andrew Walker said that the baby was rushed to hospital after his condition deteriorated, on arrival “it was recognised he was seriously unwell” and later died.
In a letter to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, Mr Walker said a consultant paediatric pathologist had told North London Coroners Court at Milind's inquest last Tuesday that a vitamin D deficiency played a role in the progress of the infection.
He added that consideration should be given “to increasing public awareness of vitamin D deficiency”, in particular that all pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should receive 10mcg of vitamin D every day.
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