Understanding What to Do for a Baby With Bacterial Meningitis: Portland Birth Injury Lawyer
There are very few diagnoses that a baby could receive which could be scarier than bacterial meningitis. This is a condition which can be very devastating and fatal. It is always a life-threatening condition and from first symptom to death could be less than 24 hours. According to the CDC, there are over 4,000 cases of bacterial meningitis each year. Approximately 500 of those cases are fatal. Many of these fatal cases are to babies and newborns. While bacterial meningitis can be difficult to detect and avoid, a healthcare provider exercising reasonable care and within the standard of care required of a healthcare provider should be able to detect and be able to treat bacterial meningitis. However this does not always happen which means that it may be due to Oregon medical malpractice.
Whenever a newborn is injured due to bacterial meningitis, or if a loved one is wrongfully killed, ask our Portland birth injury lawyer how we can help protect your rights to compensation under Oregon law. Bacterial meningitis is a very serious and always life-threatening condition. Hospitals and medical staff must always be alert for this condition and most immediately and aggressively treat newborns to prevent serious injury and to prevent wrongful death. Families should also be aware of what bacterial meningitis is and how it can be caused or be allowed to fester due to Oregon medical malpractice.
What is Bacterial Meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes wrapped around the brain and spinal cord. These membranes function to keep fluid and moisture in, and to keep harmful viruses and bacterial out. However, sometimes these membranes can become infected for a foreign object such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. With bacterial meningitis, the membranes are infected with a foreign bacteria which causes an immense and strong reaction around the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis can cause swelling around the brain and spinal cord which can result in pressure on these fragile organs or a lack of blood flow to them.
Dangerous Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis
There are many dangerous symptoms of bacterial meningitis. In adult, the tell-tale symptom is for a person to be unable to touch his or her chin to his or her chest. But in newborns, this is much harder to diagnose. This is why most physicians will assess head movement of a baby and the flexibility of the baby’s neck. If a baby is unable to move his or her head or unable to move his or her neck, it can be a sign of bacterial meningitis or another very serious condition.
Other common symptoms include the following:
- Vomiting
- Refusal to eat
- Irritability
- Crying and shrill crying
- Seizures
- Not sleeping
- Fever, and
- Other troubling symptoms.
Call our Portland Birth Injury Lawyer for Every Bacterial Meningitis Case to be Reviewed by Our Lawyers
Bacterial meningitis is always a medical emergency. Unfortunately, some healthcare providers do not treat it that way. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
