THE family of a woman thought to have contracted TB after a trip to India have been told she died of natural causes.

Zubida Ahmed, 48, of Crompton Place, Blackburn, was admitted to Blackburn Royal Infirmary but her condition continued to deteriorate and she died on April 27, an inquest heard.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of death from natural causes .

The inquest heard that housewife Mrs Ahmed had suffered from 'systemic lupus erythematosus' -- which causes the immune system to attack the body -- for a number of years.

Dr Richard Prescot, consultant pathologist at Blackburn Royal Infirmary who carried out a post mortem on April 29, said the condition is quite common and usually treatable but Mrs Ahmed had a severe case of it and in his opinion it was this that caused her death.

The post mortem examination revealed scarring to both lungs, thickening of one of the heart chambers, and scarring to the kidneys.

The lungs were also found to be inflamed which is common to systemic lupus erythematosus.

When asked by Mrs Ahmed's eldest daughter, Anisa Waka, 24, if her mother had contracted TB during a trip to India prior to her death Mr Prescot said: "There was no evidence of TB at all."

He added that Mrs Ahmed has been treated appropriately and more than adequately for the condition. She had been prescribed steroids and other drugs to treat her immune system."

He said: "It is a sad reality that with some patients the lupus is so severe that it cannot be controlled and unfortunately some people do die with this condition."