A HAMPSHIRE woman died suddenly after developing a rare infection, an inquest heard.

Deborah Atkins underwent ultrasound treatment to discover what was wrong with her after feeling unwell for some time.

But her conditioned dramatically deteriorated on December 18 last year and she died within hours of being rushed to Southampton General Hospital.

A pathologist’s report found that the Deborah, 51, of Winsford Avenue, Eastleigh, had died from a rare toxic shock syndrome, which occurs when toxins from an infection spread around the body.

It had been questioned whether the infection may have been triggered after Mrs Atkins underwent an ultrasound at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester more than a week before her death.

But consultant medical microbiologist Adriana Basarab, said it was more likely to have been naturally occurring – especially due to the amount of time that elapsed.

In a narrative verdict, Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said she had died from toxic shock syndrome, deriving from an accumulation of the bacteria staphylococcus aureus.