What Is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is the inflammation and infection of the appendix and constitutes a medical emergency. As the organ becomes inflamed, patients typically experience pain in the abdomen which can become worse the longer the appendix is left in place. Typically, the condition is treated with emergency surgery and a round of antibiotics. For most patients, the surgery and recovery are quick, but if the condition goes untreated, the appendix can rupture and lead to a systemic infection that requires more extensive treatment.

Common Symptoms of Childhood Appendicitis

Though appendicitis requires a medical diagnosis, there are a few common symptoms that pediatricians look for when assessing your child’s condition. This includes:

• Pain near the belly button
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Fever
• Diarrhea

These symptoms are similar to ones associated with other conditions and can lead to an incorrect diagnosis if the pediatrician doesn’t fully assess your child’s condition.

Why Misdiagnoses Happen

Misdiagnosing appendicitis can be a form of malpractice, especially if the physician rushed through the appointment or didn’t adequately assess your child’s symptoms. If you believe that your child’s doctor breached their duty of care when diagnosing your child’s condition, speak with a pediatric medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

The Implications of Malpractice in Cases of Pediatric Appendicitis

Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency. A doctor’s failure to diagnose the condition quickly puts your child at risk of developing a severe infection or abscess that can cause severe pain and require more medical treatments to help your child recover. In some severe cases, misdiagnosis can result in death—something no family should ever have to experience.

It’s your doctor’s responsibility to accurately diagnose your child’s appendicitis by performing the correct screenings. If they don’t, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Why Work With a Pennsylvania Pediatric Malpractice Appendicitis Lawyer

Working with a malpractice attorney can help you hold your child’s doctor accountable for their actions, which can protect other families from going through similar experiences. Your attorney will represent your case and show the court why the harm your child’s doctor caused constitutes malpractice and can help you get a fair settlement. You can use this money to help pay for medical treatments, offset income lost as you cared for your child, and help cover the pain and suffering your child experienced from the misdiagnosis.

Get Help Today

Failure to accurately diagnose appendicitis can result in more severe and extensive surgeries, especially if your child’s appendix ruptured. Unfortunately, those surgeries and any accompanying hospital stays can get expensive fast. If your child experienced appendicitis but did not receive the diagnosis they needed when they needed it, you may be eligible to file a malpractice lawsuit against your child’s doctor. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and let our experienced Pennsylvania pediatric malpractice appendicitis lawyer help you figure out your best next steps.