Bacterial Meningitis Malpractice Lawyers Helping Chicago Families with Birth Injury Cases

Bacterial meningitis is an easily detected and treatable infection that, when left untreated, may cause severe damage to the nervous system. Newborns or infants may lose their hearing, experience seizures and diminished mental capacity, suffer brain damage, become partially or fully paralyzed or even die of the infection. Age is one of the risk factors of meningitis, and infants have a higher risk of contracting the illness than the general population.

Many infants show symptoms of the infection and the slow response of doctors or the failure to detect the infection leave the child with conditions that will affect his or her quality of life. The resulting conditions also place a huge financial burden on the child's family as medical care for these conditions is extremely expensive.

Experienced Bacterial Meningitis Attorney Ready to Help You

When your infant has contracted bacterial meningitis, you will need a medical malpractice attorney on your side to help you file a medical claim. One phone call to our birth injury attorneys can schedule your free consultation where you can receive legal advice about your meningitis lawsuit.

What Is Meningitis?

Meningitis occurs when there has been a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the spinal cord or the membranes surrounding the brain. Most infections are considered viral meningitis, but there can also be fungal meningitis. It is also not uncommon for a patient to suffer a case of bacterial meningitis. One common cause of bacterial meningitis is pneumonia.

Meningitis is related to encephalitis, but is not the same thing since encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain itself.

Early Symptoms and Detection

Some of the symptoms of bacterial meningitis are common in most infections while others are more specific to the central nervous system, which is what the infection attacks. High fever and lethargy are two telltale signs that an infection is present. The specific symptoms of meningitis include the following. 

• Sensitivity to light
• Nausea
• Frequent headaches or pains in the neck

If the infection is detected early and antibiotics are administered in a timely manner, the infection will die off before the bacteria can cause any long term harm. If not treated quickly, however, the infection can cause irreparable damage. If symptoms are present, it may require a simple spinal tap or lumbar puncture to detect the bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid and then address it accordingly.

Meningitis is considered a medical emergency. When it results from a medical condition caused sepsis, the condition can be grave. Medical doctors must take immediate action to save the patient's life.

Long Term Effects

When left untreated, bacterial meningitis attacks nerve and brain function and the damage cannot be repaired. Common complications that require a lifetime of care include mental retardation, seizures, spinal cord damage, hearing loss and paralysis. It may also permanently damages the immune system. Medical care for these conditions over a lifetime can cost millions of dollars— for conditions that are the result of a physician's inability to perform his or her basic duties.

Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics that are readily available and easily administered. There is no excuse for the failure of physicians to fail to diagnose and treat the disease and this level of negligence falls under medical malpractice. If your child is suffering from the long term effects of bacterial meningitis because the infection was not detected or treated in a timely manner, you are entitled to compensation not only for the cost of medical care but for the pain and suffering your child must endure the rest of his or her life.

Medical Negligence Attorneys Who Are Committed To Prosecuting Your Case

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC stand by those who are affected by the negligent acts of others and it is our goal to help ease the burden on the victims and their families. If your child had undiagnosed bacterial meningitis and is suffering from irreparable damage as a result, contact us today and schedule a free consultation so that we can begin the process of ensuring your child receives the care he or she deserves by pursuing damages that will cover the financial cost of a lifetime of care.

We cannot reverse the damage that has been done, but we do have the experience and knowledge required to hold negligent doctors accountable and make life more bearable for those affected by medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free no obligation consultation.