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The Brown & Crouppen law firm helps clients secure
compensation for losses caused by healthcare provider
negligence. Our skills, credentials and resources have
helped thousands of clients win millions of dollars from
medical malpractice cases. If you, or a loved one, have
suffered bacterial (or spinal) meningitis, and there was
a delayed diagnosis, we may be able to recover money for
you.
Meningitis, also called spinal meningitis, is an
inflammation of the lining of the brain. Meningitis is
almost always caused by a bacterial or viral infection
of the spinal fluid. Between 10,000 and 25,000 children
contract bacterial meningitis each year, and the disease
can kill an infant in 24 hours if left untreated.
It’s important to know whether a particular case of
meningitis results from a virus or a bacterium because
of the differences in the seriousness of the illnesses,
and the treatment needed.
Bacterial meningitis. The bacterial form of meningitis
is an extremely serious illness that requires immediate
medical care. If not treated quickly, it can lead to
death within hours or to permanent brain damage in about
30 percent of people. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of
bacterial meningitis is the most common form of
meningitis malpractice claim. Bacterial meningitis is
caused by any one of several bacteria, including Group B
strep (in newborns), Hemophilus influenzae type b (in
babies), meningococcus (mostly in young adults) and
pneumococcus (the most common for adults). Together,
these four bacteria account for over 80% of bacterial
meningitis cases in the U.S.
Viral meningitis. Though more common, people with viral
meningitis are much less likely to have permanent brain
damage. Also, because antibiotics cannot treat viral
meningitis, very few malpractice cases involve viral
meningitis. Viral meningitis is usually relatively mild.
It clears up within a week or two without specific
treatment.
Bacterial meningitis symptoms can mimic flu symptoms,
and unless competent medical professionals confirm the
diagnosis by ordering a lumbar puncture – also known as
a spinal tap – children, especially infants, could
suffer brain damage, coma, hearing loss, mental
retardation, paralysis, seizures and death. Almost 500
people, mostly children, die from bacterial meningitis
each year.
If aggressively treated, the disease is curable with
powerful antibiotics. A doctor’s delay or failure to
diagnose and properly treat meningitis could result in
malpractice liability.
If you believe that you or a family member have suffered
injury or you believe a family member has dies as the
result of a physician's failure to properly diagnose or
treat bacterial meningitis, call Brown & Crouppen, at
Toll Free: 866-991-4700 or
contact us via e-mail to determine whether you might
have a viable medical malpractice claim. Our attorneys
will evaluate your case free of charge. Please keep in
mind that there may be time limits within which you must
commence suit.
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