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Failure to Make Diagnosis of Meningitis - Taking Legal Action
Meningococcal disease is often misdiagnosed as something less
serious because early symptoms are similar to the flu. The
fact that a patient has one symptom does not mean he or she
has meningitis. It is usually a cluster of symptoms that
raises a suspicion. Diagnosis is usually made by growing
bacteria from a sample of spinal fluid, obtained by doing a
spinal tap. This is how the type of bacteria is identified as
well.
Most of the fatalities associated with meningitis occur
because of failure to diagnose the disease early enough. Most
doctors and pediatricians should diagnose meningitis based on
the patient’s medical history, a physical exam and certain
diagnostic tests. During the exam, the physician will also
usually check for signs of infection around the head, ear,
throat and skin along the spine. The following are some of the
most common tests performed to diagnose meningitis:
Throat culture: A throat culture can find and identify
the bacteria causing throat pain, neck pain and headache, but
can't determine what pathogens may be in your spinal fluid.
Imaging: X-rays and computerized tomography (CT) scans
of the chest, skull or sinuses may reveal swelling or
inflammation. These tests can also help your doctor look for
infection in other areas of the body or infections associated
with meningitis.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): The definitive diagnosis
of meningitis is often made by analyzing a sample of your
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is collected during a
procedure known as a spinal tap. In people with meningitis,
the CSF fluid often shows a low sugar (glucose) level along
with an increased white blood cell count and increased
protein. CSF analysis may also help your doctor identify the
exact bacterium that's causing the illness.
Polymerase chain reaction analysis: If your doctor
suspects meningitis, he or she may order a DNA-based test
known as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to
check for the presence of certain causes of meningitis.
Patients with chronic meningitis caused by cancer or an
inflammatory illness, you may need additional tests.
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