Failure to Diagnose Bacterial Meningitis

If it is not treated quickly, bacterial meningitis can lead to severe and debilitating conditions such as brain damage, mental disability, and hearing loss. While most people recover, fatality is a possibility. From 2003 through 2007, roughly 12% of the people who contracted bacterial meningitis died because of the infection.

If a doctor failed to diagnose bacterial meningitis and someone you love was seriously injured or killed, we invite you to contact Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC to discuss the possibility of a medical malpractice claim in Portland.

Detecting the Signs and Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis

Doctors must be able to quickly notice the signs of bacterial meningitis. Common symptoms include the sudden onset of –

Bacterial meningitis can be a mystery because it has some of the same symptoms as other illnesses. These signs and symptoms can occur within minutes or over the course of a few days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people exposed to bacterial meningitis, on average, begin to display symptoms within three to seven days. If you or someone you know has contracted the bacteria, make sure to reduce contact to limit the chances of transmission.

Diagnosing Bacterial Meningitis

Any combination of these symptoms should prompt diagnostic testing for bacterial meningitis. A common way to diagnose bacterial meningitis is by taking blood samples or testing cerebrospinal fluid. Antibiotics should be administered as soon as possible to prevent serious injury. Although a prompt diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is paramount, it is particularly important to infants and the elderly, as they are most vulnerable.

Bacteria That Causes Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is caused by bacteria, often passed from person to person through contact with saliva or mucus. The following types of bacteria have been known to cause this type of meningitis:

Our Experience with Malpractice & Failure to Diagnose Cases

Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC’s Portland personal injury attorneys have extensive experience with “failure to diagnose” cases. Some of the verdicts and settlements we have achieved in this category include:

Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC is one of the premier law firms in the Pacific Northwest for medical malpractice. We were awarded with a “Best Law Firms” rating by U.S. News in the practice area of medical malpractice for plaintiffs and Attorney Chuck Paulson was voted “Lawyer of the Year” in medical malpractice for plaintiffs. We help victims of diagnostic failures.

Contact our team today for a free initial consultation.