Three-year-old's fatal heart disease hidden behind persistent cough, mother urges vigilance
Penny Dunn, a three-year-old from Gloucestershire, died after a lingering cough was later linked to dilated cardiomyopathy, prompting her mother to call for greater awareness of heart issues in children.
In Gloucestershire, three-year-old Penny Dunn began coughing during the 2025 holiday season, a symptom initially dismissed as a common illness or possible asthma. After multiple doctor appointments and temporary relief from inhalers, her cough persisted, accompanied by breathlessness, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss and a seizure at nursery. Hospital tests revealed an enlarged heart with abnormal rhythm, leading to a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Despite advanced life support and surgery, Penny suffered irreversible brain and bowel damage and died on July 6. Her mother, Courtney Sherwood, praised the medical team but highlighted the unclear trigger and now advocates for easier access to pediatric heart testing and second opinions. Cardiology expert Manish Bansal emphasized that persistent coughs with additional signs like fatigue or poor growth should prompt cardiac assessment.
Why it matters
The case shows that serious heart conditions can masquerade as common coughs, underscoring the need for vigilant pediatric assessment.
In this story
