What Is Meningitis?

Meningitis is a life-threatening disease that causes inflammation of the membranes around the spinal cord and brain. The inflammation can result in permanent damage to the nerves and brain, causing conditions like seizures, brain damage, memory and retention difficulties, learning disabilities, and death if untreated.

Meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, and requires professional medical intervention and prompt treatment.

Common Symptoms of Meningitis

Unfortunately, meningitis can present symptoms that are similar to other common conditions. This can increase the risk of a misdiagnosis. Here are a few of the most common symptoms children experience:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Skin rashes
• Diarrhea
• Convulsions
• Sensitivity to light
• Drowsiness
• Severe headaches
• Stiffness in the neck

Pediatricians should order additional tests if they notice any of these symptoms to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Failure to properly diagnose meningitis may constitute medical malpractice.

How Meningitis Is Diagnosed

When doctors are performing their work correctly, they check for the common symptoms listed above. If your child experiences one or more of those symptoms, doctors should immediately order more comprehensive tests to rule meningitis out completely. Typically, this means ordering CT scans and performing blood tests. If your child has meningitis, those tests will show signs of the disease. If the pediatric doctor fails to order tests in a timely manner or misdiagnoses your child’s condition as something more common like the flu due to a refusal to rule out possible conditions, they may be guilty of malpractice.

Why Doctors Misdiagnose Meningitis

In many instances, the misdiagnosis results from a lack of testing. Doctors may assume that the symptoms your child exhibits indicate a more common condition like the flu or a stomach bug. That snap judgment often leads them to avoid further testing to rule out meningitis or other more severe health conditions.

How a Pediatric Malpractice Meningitis Lawyer in Pennsylvania Can Help

Any form of pediatric medical malpractice is serious and can lead to life-long health challenges for your child. Doctors and medical practitioners who violate their duty of care and don’t provide your child with the treatment they need should be held accountable for their actions. By working with a pediatric malpractice meningitis lawyer, you’ll be able to hold your child’s healthcare provider accountable.

An experienced attorney will be able to review your case and help you decide if filing a lawsuit is in your best interest. If it is, your attorney will represent you in court and use every tool at their disposal to show the court just how serious the violation was. They’ll help you compile evidence, identify expert witnesses to strengthen your case, and push for the compensation you need to adequately care for your child.

Speak With an Attorney Today

If your child contracted meningitis and their doctor failed to accurately diagnose their condition in time, you may be eligible to file a malpractice lawsuit. At Latona Law, our team is here to help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and let our experienced Pennsylvania pediatric malpractice meningitis lawyer review your case. If your pediatrician violated their duty of care, you may be able to hold them accountable for their actions.