Meningitis

There are two types of meningitis in general: viral and bacterial. Bacterial meningitis infections are considered a medical emergency and can cause brain damage or death if they are not treated very quickly. Unfortunately, in some cases when patients arrive at an emergency room with meningitis symptoms, doctors do not act in time.

Initial stages of bacterial meningitis can be misdiagnosed if medical staff are reckless or negligent. Meningitis may look very similar to the flu or a less serious ailment, but any time that someone who is at risk presents symptoms of meningitis is important for medical staff to run the appropriate test to rule out a serious ailment. If you are loved one are seriously injured by a misdiagnosis in a meningitis case, you may have a personal injury or wrongful death claim in Miami or your community. To learn more, contact the Flaxman Law Group legal team for a free case evaluation.

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis can include:

• stiff neck and difficulty moving the head forward
• fever
• chills
• confusion or changes in mental status
• nausea and vomiting
• sensitivity to light
• bad headache
• restlessness or agitation
• loss of consciousness
• rapid breathing
• a posture in which the head and neck are arched backwards

Doctors who suspect meningitis need to do a lumbar puncture or spinal tap in order to test the spinal fluid. In addition, doctors may require x-rays, blood tests, CT scans, and other tests to properly diagnose meningitis. Unfortunately, many doctors dismiss meningitis as a flu or another less serious ailment and never bother to run the appropriate tests. When this type of recklessness or negligence occurs, death and serious brain injury can occur, especially in young children. Meningitis can proceed very quickly from flulike symptoms to seizures and even death. People who are not treated in a prompt manner can suffer brain injuries and other serious injuries.

If you have been injured by a meningitis misdiagnosis, you may face lost income as well as increased medical bills. If meningitis is not caught in time due to delayed treatment or emergency room negligence in Miami or your community, you may need to be admitted to the hospital and you may face a longer recovery time. In these cases, you may be able to pursue a legal claim in order to recover compensation for additional medical costs and lost income.

If you have lost a child or loved one to a meningitis misdiagnosis, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim in Miami or your community in order to recover for final medical costs, memorial expenses, and other costs.

No matter what your individual situation, it is important to get legal advice if you have been the victim of medical misdiagnosis or medical negligence in Miami or your community. If you live in Southern Florida, you can always reach the Flaxman Law Group legal team to discuss your situation with a personal injury attorney. Contact the law firm today to speak with one of our legal professionals.