<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Girl, 12, dies a day after developing fever
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Kimberly Spykerman
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Primary 6 pupil Tan Yong had no known health problems. She was born with thalassemia minor, but required no medication. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->A 12-YEAR-OLD girl died of breathing difficulties barely a day after she came down with a fever on Sunday evening.
Primary 6 pupil Tan Yong was found slumped on a sofa by her 13-year-old brother in the family's flat in Upper Boon Keng Road on Monday afternoon. She was pale, semi-conscious and clutching her chest, having trouble breathing.
Panic-stricken, he called for an ambulance, which arrived minutes later. But Yong was already unconscious and died in Tan Tock Seng Hospital shortly after.
Her family is still grappling with her death as she had no known health problems or allergies. She was born with thalassemia minor - a genetic blood disorder - but did not require any medication.
Said her mother, Madam Chia Quee Mooi, 50, a sales promoter: 'We didn't think there was any reason to worry because we thought she had an ordinary fever and would take at least two to three days to recover.'
Yong first became unwell on Sunday morning after spending the night at her grandmother's flat in Sembawang. She was taken to a clinic at Sembawang MRT station after she vomited and had developed a high fever.
She was given two kinds of medicine for the fever - antibiotics and a powder meant to stop the vomiting, according to her eldest brother, 20.
That night, at home, she seemed better, her mother said, although drowsy and slightly listless. Madam Chia said she kept a close watch on Yong that night, sponging her with a wet cloth to try and bring down the fever.
It seemed to work, as Yong's fever broke the next morning. She was able to eat some food before taking her medicine. Before Madam Chia left for work, she reminded Yong to take her next dose of medicine at 1pm.
Yong was found by her brother at about 1.30pm, a pool of vomit next to her. On a side table were her medicine, an empty glass that she used for the powdered mixture, a damp towel and a thermometer with a 38.9 deg C reading.
Said Madam Chia: 'We still don't know how this could have happened. She was always such a good girl. She never made a fuss even though she was sick.' The family have handed over her medication to the police, who are investigating.
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Kimberly Spykerman
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Primary 6 pupil Tan Yong had no known health problems. She was born with thalassemia minor, but required no medication. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->A 12-YEAR-OLD girl died of breathing difficulties barely a day after she came down with a fever on Sunday evening.
Primary 6 pupil Tan Yong was found slumped on a sofa by her 13-year-old brother in the family's flat in Upper Boon Keng Road on Monday afternoon. She was pale, semi-conscious and clutching her chest, having trouble breathing.
Panic-stricken, he called for an ambulance, which arrived minutes later. But Yong was already unconscious and died in Tan Tock Seng Hospital shortly after.
Her family is still grappling with her death as she had no known health problems or allergies. She was born with thalassemia minor - a genetic blood disorder - but did not require any medication.
Said her mother, Madam Chia Quee Mooi, 50, a sales promoter: 'We didn't think there was any reason to worry because we thought she had an ordinary fever and would take at least two to three days to recover.'
Yong first became unwell on Sunday morning after spending the night at her grandmother's flat in Sembawang. She was taken to a clinic at Sembawang MRT station after she vomited and had developed a high fever.
She was given two kinds of medicine for the fever - antibiotics and a powder meant to stop the vomiting, according to her eldest brother, 20.
That night, at home, she seemed better, her mother said, although drowsy and slightly listless. Madam Chia said she kept a close watch on Yong that night, sponging her with a wet cloth to try and bring down the fever.
It seemed to work, as Yong's fever broke the next morning. She was able to eat some food before taking her medicine. Before Madam Chia left for work, she reminded Yong to take her next dose of medicine at 1pm.
Yong was found by her brother at about 1.30pm, a pool of vomit next to her. On a side table were her medicine, an empty glass that she used for the powdered mixture, a damp towel and a thermometer with a 38.9 deg C reading.
Said Madam Chia: 'We still don't know how this could have happened. She was always such a good girl. She never made a fuss even though she was sick.' The family have handed over her medication to the police, who are investigating.
