Meningitis Misdiagnosis Claims

Although this deadly disease can appear in several forms, there are actually only two types of meningitis:

• Bacterial meningitis
• Viral meningitis

The most common form of meningitis is caused by meningococcal bacteria, which can lead to a person contracting meningitis, septicaemia (commonly known as sepsis) or both.

Babies and children under five are much more likely to contract bacterial meningitis so additional care should be taken when they are assessed.

Because there are often no signs of meningitis in cases of septicaemia (sepsis), this can be a more life-threatening form of the disease.

To minimise the risk of injury as a result of meningitis, every case should be treated as a medical emergency.

If a GP, doctor, nurse or any other medical professional does not do this, the misdiagnosis of meningitis can easily occur – especially if the deadly bacterial type is dismissed as a virus.

The main symptoms of meningitis vary depending on the age of the person displaying them.

Although someone might display one or all of the symptoms, it is sometimes possible to have meningitis and not be showing any visible signs of it at all. If this was the case, a medical professional would need to conduct a lumbar puncture or CSF examination to test the cerebral spinal fluid for its signs of infection.

For babies and young children under five years old, who are deemed to be most at risk of the disease, the main symptoms are:

• Agitation and refusing to be picked up.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Convulsions or seizures.
• Drowsiness, floppiness or unresponsive.
• High fever.
• Pale, blotchy skin.
• Rapid or shallow breathing.
• Red rash – that does not fade under pressure.
• Refusing to feed.
• Stiff neck and sensitive to light.
• Tense, bulging soft spot on top of their head, known as the ‘fontanelle’.
• Unusual high-pitched cry or moaning.
• Vomiting.

The additional meningitis symptoms can be present in older children, teenagers and adults:

• Confused and irritable.
• Difficult to wake up.
• Severe muscle pain.
• Severe headache.
• Stiff neck.

Here at Hudgell Solicitors, our meningitis negligence claims experts have helped people of all ages that have suffered as the result of a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

To bring a successful medical negligence case, three things must be proven:

• The care a patient received fell below the standards which could ‘reasonably be expected’ from a specialist in the field.
• That the NHS Trust or medical professional breached the duty of care that they owed to their patient.
• That this lack of care led directly to the injury or harm suffered, which was a ‘reasonably foreseeable consequence’ of the necessary or appropriate actions not being taken by the person providing treatment.

Because of the complex legal and medical issues which are involved in securing a successful claim, it is a good idea to seek specialist legal advice from a solicitor before taking any action.

If a family member or loved one has passed away as the result of a meningitis misdiagnosis, we understand why you might want to gain answers about the circumstances surrounding their death.

Our meningitis claims solicitors will fully support your bid to uncover the truth, hold the people who are responsible to account and help to obtain the apology you deserve. They can also represent you at any subsequent inquest.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to receive compensation for the pain and suffering which has been caused, or any expenses or financial losses which have been incurred because of the death.

In the event of a wrongful death, a spouse, civil partner or a parent of (children under 18) could also be entitled to a statutory bereavement award in addition to any compensation.