Meningitis negligence claims

Meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the protective membranes which cover the brain and spinal cord. This protective covering is called ‘the meninges’. Meningitis is most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections, but can have other causes, such as cancer or fungal infection.

Meningitis is a medical emergency. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of this dangerous condition can lead to the patient’s death or severe, permanent disability.

Anyone can be affected by meningitis, but those at highest risk include:

babies:

• from Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection, E coli, TB or other infection;
• if born prematurely before 37 weeks gestation;
• whose mother had a high temperature during childbirth;
• if born more than 18 hours after their mother’s waters broke (rupture of membranes);
• if their mother’s previous child had GBS infection.

young children:

• teenagers, young adults and students living away from home for the first time;
• older adults with compromised immune systems.

Babies with meningitis may show some or all of the following signs, which may appear in any order:

• a high temperature (fever) with cold hands and feet;
• vomiting or refusing food;
• being unhappy about being handled;
• drowsy, sleepy, floppy or unresponsive;
• breathing rapidly or grunting;
• unusual cry or moaning;
• a tense, bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the baby’s head);
• neck stiffness;
• photophobia (discomfort in bright light);
• fits (seizures or convulsions);
• pale blotchy skin, spots, or a rash which doesn’t fade in colour when the side of a glass is pressed firmly against the skin.

Many people think of the rash as a classic sign for meningitis, but many people with meningitis infection do not have the rash. Do not wait for the rash to seek urgent medical help if any other signs are present. However, the appearance of the rash is a medical emergency. If it appears, call 999.

Teenagers, adults or older children with meningitis may have some but not all of the following signs (in any order):

• a high temperature (fever) with cold hands and feet;
• drowsy or difficult to wake;
• confusion or irritability;
• vomiting;
• severe muscle pain;
• neck stiffness;
• severe headache;
• photophobia (discomfort in bright light);
• fits (seizures or convulsions);
• pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash which doesn’t fade in colour when the side of a glass is pressed firmly against the skin.

Do not wait for the skin rash to seek urgent medical help if other signs of meningitis are present. Meningitis can present without a rash, but if it appears, this is a medical emergency – call 999.

As meningitis develops rapidly into life-threatening and permanently disabling injury, meningitis compensation claims most commonly arise from delays in diagnosis, referral, emergency transportation and admission to hospital, or failure by hospital staff to treat the patient urgently with antibiotics.

Meningitis negligence claims often arise when someone has suffered severe injuries or has died after a GP or hospital staff:

• delayed or failed to recognise signs and suspect or diagnose meningitis;
• delayed or failed to refer or admit the patient to hospital;
• failed urgently to provide or delayed treatment with IV antibiotics;
• failed to monitor a pregnant woman with group B streptococcus (GBS);
• failed to give antibiotics to a pregnant woman with group B streptococcus (GBS):
  • where the mother had a GBS urine infection in pregnancy;
  • where the mother’s waters broke before 37 weeks gestation;
  • where the baby was delivered by caesarean section;
• failed to monitor a baby at high risk of developing GBS infection.

We are experienced in helping clients recover substantial compensation after meningitis negligence has led to:

• death;
• brain injury, including cerebral palsy or neonatal brain injury;
• limb loss and amputation;
• long-term disability, including:
  • brain injury and neurological injury;
  • loss of hearing;
  • blindness or visual impairment;
  • epilepsy (seizures or fits);
  • learning disability;
  • problems with speech and communication.

Where septicaemia or sepsis is also present, additional injuries may include:

• organ damage;
• scarring;
• limb-loss or loss of fingers or toes.