Bad Blood? It reads like a bad science fiction novel: A small biotechnology company cuts a deal with Illinois UCSD. The university is agreed to test a human blood substitute in a state of coma patients – victims of gunshots and car accidents – without the consent of patients.
The failure to diagnose meningitis is becoming the leading cause of medical malpractice cases. Meningitis is an infection of the membrane surrounding the spinal cord and brain. It is usually caused by viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial meningitis is much more serious and can result in brain damage, hearing loss, learning disability or even death.
Early diagnosis and identification the specific type of bacteria that causes meningitis is crucial because antibiotics can prevent some types of meningitis from spreading and infecting other people.
Meningitis occurs significantly in college students. It is believed they may be at greater risk due to shared utensils, active or passive smoking, patterns irregular sleep, and overcrowded conditions, such as dormitories. Other high risk groups are infants and young children, refugees, and military personnel.
Meningitis is often misdiagnosed as something less serious because early symptoms are similar to flu. Unfortunately, the majority of deaths associated with Meningitis occur due to lack of diagnosis of the disease early.
Symptoms
The symptoms of meningitis are similar for both forms Bacterial and viral disease.
In adults and older children
Fever and chills
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
· Stiff neck and body
Irritability
Sleepiness
· Sensitivity to light
· Delirium and confusion
Seizures ·
· Coma
In infants and toddlers
· Moaning and crying, often at a high pitch
· Difficulty in waking or being very slow when awake
· Fussiness or discomfort when held or cuddled
· Arch your back or pull in the neck
• In white look
High fever
· Cold hands and feet
Lack of appetite
Vomiting
· Pale or the appearance of spots
Some of the reasons for the lack of diagnosis
An October 2006 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine looked at more than 300 cases of malpractice and concluded that the lack of adequate evidence for a problem in 55% Claims for malpractice misdiagnosis. The breakdown of the factors is as follows:
· 55% failure to order appropriate diagnostic testing
· 45% fail to create a proper follow-up plan
· 42% fail to obtain an adequate history or perform an adequate physical examination
· 37% incorrectly interpret diagnostic tests
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