FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE SPINAL MENINGITIS
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- March 19, 2024
Spinal meningitis is an infection of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord. It spreads rapidly throughout the body, attacking the nervous system and muscle control, leading to paralysis, seizures, and, if not brought under control, death.
Each year, nearly 500 individuals, mostly children, die from this preventable, curable disease. Often the fault lies in the failure of medical professionals to timely diagnose and treat this disease before the infection becomes too severe. If not treated properly, spinal meningitis can lead to:
- hearing loss
- loss of mental faculties
- seizures
- paralysis
- coma
- permanent brain damage
- death
TWO KINDS OF SPINAL MENINGITIS
Spinal meningitis is the general term for two different strains of the disease; one is viral, and one is bacterial. Viral meningitis is more common and less serious and often goes away without treatment. Bacterial meningitis is extremely serious and can potentially cause death in as little as 24 hours.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
In the United States, about 2,600 cases of bacterial meningitis are reported annually, with almost 70% occurring in children under the age of six. Bacterial meningitis can only be diagnosed after a lumbar puncture, otherwise known as a spinal tap. This form of meningitis is caused by several types of bacteria, including:
- Group B Strep: typically seen in newborns
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type B: typically seen in babies
- Meningococcus: typically seen in young adults
- Pneumococcus: typically seen in adults
Overall, these four strains account for around 80% of bacterial meningitis cases in the United States. The infection must be cured with an aggressive round of antibiotics as soon as possible, or it is almost always fatal. In these cases, a physician’s failure to properly treat and diagnose the infection as bacterial meningitis may be grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
GET THE COMPASSION AND JUSTICE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES DESERVE
If you or a loved one has been injured due to spinal meningitis, it may be best to consult an attorney.
For more than 40 years, the law firm of Brown & Crouppen has been helping the victims of medical malpractice get the justice they deserve. Our attorneys will work diligently to help you recover money for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering caused by a failure to diagnose and treat spinal meningitis.
Every day, Brown & Crouppen fights for the rights of people like you, who may have been the victim of medical malpractice.
IT ALL STARTS WITH A FREE CASE EVALUATION FROM THE EXPERIENCED MEDICAL MALPRACTICE TEAM AT BROWN & CROUPPEN
Getting started is easy. You can call us at 888-801-4736 for a free consultation, or tell us about your case with our Free Case Review form. And remember, there’s no upfront cost to you — if you don’t get paid, we don’t get paid.
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- Last Modified:
- March 19, 2024
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