23-year-old woman dies after rare illness mistaken for tonsillitis

A Kansas State University student has died after succumbing to a rare bacterial infection. Her symptoms were mistaken for tonsillitis.

Twenty three-year-old Samantha Scott was a architectural engineering student and was well-known for her role on the women’s rowing team at school. When her throat started feeling sore and swollen, she didn’t take it too seriously.

By the time Scott went to hospital, there was nothing doctors could do.

She was diagnosed with Lemierre’s syndrome, a rare infection that begins as a sore throat and fever, and quickly turns into swelling and pus that distributes throughout the body. While doctors aren’t entirely sure how it develops, antibiotics are required as soon as possible.

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Scott passed away on Sunday.

“She could cheer you up if you were having a bad day, and just going to practice was like being with your family and being with someone who was always upbeat and happy,” Kennidi Cobbley told Fox 31 in Denver.

Cobbley, a longtime friend of the 23-year-old, has created a GoFundMe page to help with the medical and funeral bills, and also hopes to set up a scholarship fund in memory of Scott.

“They’re struggling to deal with what’s happening, and now they have this huge financial burden, and if there’s anything I can do to help, it’s just really to get the message out there,” she said.

Kansas State University Rowing Coach Patrick Sweeney also made a tribute to Scott, remembering her as a leader and a good person.

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“Samantha was a great leader for our program and more importantly a great person,” said Sweeney.

“She was so well-liked by all of her teammates and had such a big impact on our program both on and off the water.”

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