Meningitis misdiagnosis often fatal

Meningitis is caused by a normally harmless bacteria found in the back of the throat in up to 10% of the population. During infection, the toxins released by the bacteria can cause the blood vessels to leak which results in a drop in blood pressure and shock. Treatment involves antibiotics and IV fluids. A 19 year old girl went to hospital complaining of light sensitivity, sore neck and high fever. She was misdiagnosed with the flu and sent home. Less than 12 hours later, she died. The family was distraught and at hospital meetings they were given no guarantee that the mistake would not happen to another patient. Doctors claim that the condition is very swift and easily misdiagnosed.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Canadian Press

Related Disease Topics:

• Meningitis
• Bacterial infection
• Flu

Related Symptom Topics:

• Low blood pressure
• Shock
• Sore neck
• Fever
• Light sensitivity

Article Source Details

About: Meningitis misdiagnosis often fatal

Date: 18 February 2005

Source: Canadian Press

Author: Dirk Meissner

URL: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=726730a3-5d92-4270-9ea0-d9471f25e5c4

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Misdiagnosis (type of Medical misadventure)
• Diagnosis
• Misdiagnosis and low blood pressure
• Misdiagnosis and shock
• Misdiagnosis and sore neck
• Misdiagnosis and fever
• Misdiagnosis and light sensitivity
• Misdiagnosis and meningitis
• Misdiagnosis and bacterial infection
• Misdiagnosis and flu
• Diagnosis and low blood pressure
• Diagnosis and shock
• Diagnosis and sore neck
• Diagnosis and fever
• Diagnosis and light sensitivity
• Diagnosis and meningitis
• Diagnosis and bacterial infection
• Diagnosis and flu
• Cause of meningitis
• Death and meningitis
• Medication
• Medication and meningitis

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