What is Meningitis?
South Jersey Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Meningitis, also known as Meningococcal Disease or ‘Spinal Meningitis’, is an infection of the spinal cord fluid and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningitis is caused by viral or bacterial infection, affecting the severity of the disease.

Meningitis can be difficult to diagnose, and is sometimes misdiagnosed with life-threatening consequences for the patient. Anapol Schwartz in South New Jersey routinely assists residents of South Jersey who have been injured due to misdiagnosis of meningitis. They’re standing by to help you if this unfortunate set of circumstances has affected you and your family.

Viral meningitis can usually be treated, but bacterial meningitis can be very severe and can lead to:

• Brain damage
• Hearing loss
• Learning disabilities
• Kidney disease
• Loss of limbs
• Death

Why is Early Detection Important?

Meningitis in New Jersey and across the country strikes nearly 3,000 Americans annually, often because some types of meningitis can spread and put other people at risk for infection. Early diagnosis and identification of the specific type of bacteria causing the illness is of the utmost importance for the most effective treatment, which often involves the use of specific antibiotics.

These statistics from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) tell the story:

• Adolescents and young adults, especially college students, are most likely to become infected
• 10 - 12 % of all cases of bacterial meningitis are fatal (about 350 cases annually) Among survivors, about 20% suffer long-term consequences, such as those described above

Young People Are Especially At Risk

While adolescents and college students are at greater risk, infants, young children, refugees, military personnel and household members of infected individuals are also in danger. All of these groups share certain common factors, including:

• Crowded living conditions, such as dormitories or military barracks
• Attending a new school with individuals from geographically diverse areas
• Sharing utensils or beverages
• Active or passive smoking
• Irregular sleeping patterns

When Your Doctor Misdiagnoses Meningitis

Physicians faced with a potential meningitis infection are expected to follow a specific protocol, performing cultures and other tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of meningitis. Physicians who do not follow protocol may misdiagnose the patient, putting the patient and others in the community at risk for further severe infection, long-term injury and perhaps death.

If you or a loved one have suffered from meningitis, you may be entitled to damages if your physician:

• Refused to see you in a timely manner
• Refused to perform necessary diagnostic tests
• Failed to perform necessary tests
• Did not provide proper treatment needed at the time of your visit

People seeking a lawyer for a medical malpractice case often believe that finding the right law firm will be expensive and challenging. At Anapol Schwartz, you pay nothing unless and until we recover damages in your case. Why not take a moment right now to contact the skilled South Jersey meningitis attorneys of Anapol Schwartz for a compassionate review of your medical malpractice case?

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