Hakeem Hussain: dust mites at home may have caused fatal asthma attack, court hears

Hakeem Hussain’s mum Laura Heath is standing trial for the manslaughter of the seven year old
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A fatal asthma attack which killed a seven-year-old boy who was neglected by his junkie mum may have been triggered by dust mites in his filthy home, a court heard.

Tragic Hakeem Hussain was found dead outside his home in Nechells in near freezing conditions on November 26, 2017.

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A court heard he died from acute exacerbation of asthma after being fatally neglected by his mum Laura Heath, 39, who failed to manage his medical condition.

She also used his inhaler to smoke heroin and crack cocaine and his exposure to the class A drugs left his breathing getting worse "day by day", jurors were told.

Heath has admitted four counts of child cruelty but has gone on trial accused of manslaughter at Coventry Crown Court.

The jury were previously shown photographs of the squalid rooms Heath and Hakeem lived in which were cluttered full of rubbish.

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Other images show piles of bags and boxes piled inside a cot as well as other "unclean" rooms which were said to have "smelled of raw smoke."

Hakeem HussainHakeem Hussain
Hakeem Hussain

What happened at court today (Thursday, April 7)

Today (Thurs) a doctor told the court how the untidy living conditions may have acted as a trigger for Hakeem’s asthma.

Consultant respiratory paediatrician Dr Martin Samuels said: "At that age it would certainly be the carer who would be responsible to ensure he took his medication regularly.

“If an environment is very untidy it is unlikely that it is not cleaned well or regularly, and that will have high dust mite counts – a trigger for many people with asthma.

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“It may mean the medicine is not in a consistent environment.

“Asthma is a chronic medical condition. The inflammation leads to a thickening of the skin that lines the tubes. It results in an excess production of mucus, of phlegm.

"The inflammation also releases chemicals in the lining of the skin that cause the muscle to spasm and become tight. The air passages can develop a variety of changes. They can develop a permanent thickening and a scaring process. This can lead to more long-standing and severe problems.

“The person who has asthma which is untreated, it is easier for those air passages to become infected. It does mean they develop more acute attacks and makes them more difficult to treat. There’s a greater risk of death."

Hhotos shown to the jury show two cramped houses cluttered full of rubbish (Photo: West Midlands Police / SWNS)Hhotos shown to the jury show two cramped houses cluttered full of rubbish (Photo: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
Hhotos shown to the jury show two cramped houses cluttered full of rubbish (Photo: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
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Dr Samuels also said he believed Hakeem’s asthma was not only manageable but that it could have even been reversed with the right treatment.

He added: "He had poorly controlled asthma. The majority of the time they can be controlled, but not always.

"There’s a very small number of children where it is difficult to control. But most times it can be controlled.

“I think it is very likely that he could have obtained good control. The lung tests from 2015 show a large amount of reversibility.

"They could be returned to a more normal state."

  Shocking pictures show how a mum addicted to heroin and crack used her son's INHALER to smoke drugs before he died from a fatal asthma attack, a court heard  Shocking pictures show how a mum addicted to heroin and crack used her son's INHALER to smoke drugs before he died from a fatal asthma attack, a court heard
Shocking pictures show how a mum addicted to heroin and crack used her son's INHALER to smoke drugs before he died from a fatal asthma attack, a court heard

What has happened at court previously?

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Following her arrest, Heath told police that her son would go outside for some fresh air if he began struggling with his breathing.

She said she had a "funny feeling" he had gone out during the night and "fell asleep".

The court heard how Hakeem was made to sleep on the sofa, while teachers at his primary school claimed his uniform reeked of urine and cigarettes.

He was also known to social services and was classed as "vulnerable" due to concerns about "neglect, attendance issues and his home life".

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But it was decided he should not be removed from his Heath’s care in the days before his death, despite him being at a "serious risk of harm".

Heath, of no fixed abode, denies gross negligence manslaughter.

She has admitted four counts of child cruelty relating to neglect by failing to provide him with proper medical supervision and exposing him to heroin and crack cocaine.

The trial continues.

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