Bacterial Meningitis Claims

Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical treatment. If doctors fail to provide such urgent treatment – perhaps because of a delay in diagnosis – there could be grounds for a medical negligence claim. If you or a loved one has been affected because medical professionals did not manage an episode of meningitis to an acceptable standard, you need to talk to a solicitor about making a claim.

Treating bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis occurs when a certain type of bacteria (usually the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria) enters the body – usually via the nose or mouth. In the majority of cases, these bacteria will live in the body quite harmlessly, causing no problems whatsoever.

However, in some people the bacteria will cross into the bloodstream. Scientists remain unsure as to how this happens. But what is certain is that once the meningitis bacteria get into the blood, a person will become extremely unwell, suffering symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, aching joints, fever, a stiff neck, an aversion to light and a rash.

Anyone who presents with these symptoms should immediately seek medical assistance. Doctors should then recognise these complaints as being typical of meningitis, and urgent tests carried out to confirm the suspected diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been made, a patient must be started on antibiotics immediately. Speed is absolutely vital, as bacterial meningitis spreads at an extremely rapid rate, quickly causing a patient's condition to deteriorate.

Claiming compensation for bacterial meningitis

If there is a delay in treatment, a patient will soon become very ill. Bacterial meningitis can actually prove to be fatal within a matter of hours, or can cause permanent complications such as blindness, loss of limbs, deafness or brain damage.

Therefore time is of the essence when it comes to treating bacterial meningitis. Doctors must take note of a patient's symptoms and appreciate that he or she may have a more minor condition such as flu, or may have a more life-threatening illness such as meningitis. Either way, tests must be carried out to ensure a correct diagnosis is made. It is vital that a patient is not misdiagnosed with flu (or another illness) and discharged from hospital, as the consequences will be devastating.

If medical professionals do make errors when managing bacterial meningitis and a patient suffers as a result, there may well be a case of medical negligence. This commonly occurs because doctors:-

Fail to carry out the necessary tests;
Make a misdiagnosis;
Fail to make a timely diagnosis;
Fail to provide emergency treatment.

Contact us today

If you or a loved one has been harmed because of meningitis, and you believe doctors are to blame, contact a solicitor as soon as possible. A lawyer who specialises in medical negligence claims will be able to advise you what action to take next.

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