Teen dies of tuberculosis after diagnosis of bulimia

A 15-year-old schoolgirl died of tuberculosis after being told she may have bulimia during a string of appointments with health professionals, an inquest has heard.

Alina Sarag, who had previously been treated for TB, passed away in January last year after a GP allegedly advised her that her physical deterioration was due to mental health problems.

The teenager’s father, Sultan Sarag, told Birmingham Coroner’s Court his daughter was left broken-hearted after being told she needed to see a psychiatrist or even a spiritual healer.

Giving evidence at the inquest, which is expected to hear from about 20 witnesses, Mr Sarag said Alina became unwell after she returned from a holiday to Pakistan in August 2010.

Detailing his and his daughter’s efforts to find out what was wrong with her in the ensuing weeks and months, Mr Sarag described the diagnosis of possible mental health problems as “absolute nonsense”.

Alina, from Sparkbrook, Birmingham, was treated at four different hospitals in the West Midlands between August and October of 2010 as she lost weight and suffered from repeated vomiting.