One of the most common types of medical malpractice is the failure to diagnose bacterial meningitis, especially in children. The disease is curable if detected early and treated aggressively. A delay in diagnosis may greatly reduce the chance of survival.

Ten percent of those afflicted with bacterial meningitis die and many more suffer permanent injuries, such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities. One of the reasons this may occur is that doctors fail to diagnose or properly treat the condition. At the first sign of the disease, doctors should order a spinal tap to confirm the diagnosis. Not doing so could result in malpractice liability.

Bacterial Meningitis Symptoms

The first symptoms of meningitis include: high fever, headache, and stiff neck. These symptoms may develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In small infants, fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent and difficult to detect.