Meningitis medical negligence claims

Meningitis is the infection and inflammation of the meninges, which are the shock-absorbing membranes found predominantly in-between the skull and brain. They also surround and protect the spinal cord.

The clinical negligence team at Thomson Snell & Passmore Solicitors are specialists in dealing with meningitis cases, having acted on a large number of claims for patients across the country.

What are the different types of meningitis and what causes it?

Meningitis is usually caused by viral or bacterial infection. Viral meningitis is more common and will often resolve on its own without treatment, whilst bacterial meningitis is rarer and is considered more serious.

Bacterial meningitis takes many forms. Meningococcal disease is the most common type of bacterial meningitis in the UK. It can lead to meningitis or in worse cases, blood poisoning known as sepsis (meningococcal septicaemia). It comes from the meningococcal bacteria, which itself has many strains, with Meningococcus ‘B’ being the most common cause as well as being the most aggressive. This is more often referred to as ‘MenB’.

The bacteria which cause meningitis are commonly found in humans and, like a lot of bacteria, they can be present without causing any harm. However, sometimes they find their way into the bloodstream at which point meningitis and/ or sepsis can develop. Under rarer circumstances, untreated or severe persistent middle ear infections can develop into meningitis through the bone.
Meningococcus passes through saliva so the primary ways of passing it on are through kissing or sharing food or drink. Most typically, the bacteria are passed on from people who do not present with an infection themselves.

Meningitis more commonly affects babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

We have experience in cases involving viral meningitis, bacterial meningitis, meningococcal sepsis, and meningitis from middle ear infections.

What are the red flag symptoms for meningitis?

The red flag symptoms that should prompt further examination and investigations include:
• A sudden fever, diarrhoea and vomiting
• Muscle and joint pain, especially neck stiffness
• Pale, mottled or blotchy skin, spots or a non-blanching rash which does not disappear under pressure
• Severe headache with a dislike of bright lights
• Being very lethargic and drowsy or difficult to wake up
• Delirium or confusion
• Seizures.

Meningitis is a medical emergency and should be treated seriously. If it goes untreated, symptoms can worsen rapidly, and the NHS estimates that around 1 in 10 cases of bacterial meningitis are fatal.

Even if not fatal, meningitis can leave patients with life-changing injuries, and can have severe psychological impacts.
Consequences may include:
• Epilepsy
• Cognitive impairment such as memory loss
• Hearing loss or damage
• Speech disorder
• Loss of a limb.

What are the reasons for making a meningitis claim?

Making a claim arising out of meningitis can take many forms. Some examples of the reasons why patients bring a claim include:
• Delayed diagnosis: Failure to identify meningitis symptoms or delaying critical management and treatment. A physical examination is usually sufficient to establish the signs of meningitis, at which point further tests should be promptly arranged
• Failure to conduct necessary tests: Failure to perform urgent diagnostic tests such as a CT scan, lumbar puncture, and blood tests, when symptoms suggest meningitis
• Incorrect treatment: Providing unreasonable guidance on treatment options, administering the wrong medication, or failing to provide timely antibiotics. Antibiotics should usually be administered as an immediate first step upon signs of bacterial meningitis, even if it later turns out to be a viral infection at which point they can be stopped.

How do I make a meningitis claim?

If you or a family member has been affected by the misdiagnosis or delayed/ incorrect treatment of meningitis, we may be able to assist you in securing compensation. We offer ‘no-win, no-fee’ agreements on the vast majority of our clinical negligence cases, including those concerning meningitis.

We can bring a case on behalf of you or your family members, including loved ones who have sadly passed away as a result of negligence.

We offer a free initial consultation to discuss whether you may have a claim and what funding options might be available. We would then conduct a forensic investigation into the management and treatment received, using your account of events, as well as the medical records and radiological imaging from the hospital and GP. We may also take advice from medical experts (which in these cases often involve microbiologists, ITU consultants, neurosurgeons and neurologists), in order to advise you on the strength of your case.

How long will it take to get compensation for a meningitis claim?

Whilst it is impossible to predict how long it will take to achieve compensation for a meningitis case, as each case turns on its own unique facts and circumstances, every effort will be made to achieve a settlement outside of the realm of court proceedings.

Contact us for a free, initial consultation with no obligation. Our medical negligence solicitors have a reputation for winning complex medical negligence cases and we have helped thousands of people claim compensation. The size of our clinical negligence team, and breadth of experience, means that we are likely to have already succeeded in recovering compensation for a meningitis claim that is similar to yours.