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Medical Malpractice Lawsuits for Failure to Diagnose Meningitis

Posted on behalf of Peter T. Nicholl in Medical Malpractice Published on July 18, 2024 and updated on April 23, 2026.

Doctor showing an area in the brain.

Misdiagnosis is a common form of medical malpractice, and when it happens with an injury like meningitis, the results can be life-altering.

In this article, The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl discusses meningitis misdiagnosis, along with the variations of this disease, potential long-term consequences and when victims may be able to sue for medical malpractice in Maryland.

What Are the Types of Meningitis?

There are several types of meningitis that doctors could misdiagnose. If you have any of these forms of the disease and think doctors may have failed to meet the standard of care, contact our firm to discuss your legal options.

Bacterial Meningitis

This is the most dangerous kind of meningitis. This form of the disease is caused by one of the following types of bacteria:

Streptococcus pneumoniae
Neisseria meningitidis
Haemophilus influenzae
Listeria monocytogenes

Bacterial meningitis often spreads via respiratory droplets that could be ingested by people in close contact with the patient. Many with this condition need urgent antibiotic treatment to prevent severe complications. Doctors also use corticosteroids to tamp down inflammation.

Common symptoms of this disease develop quickly and typically include:

Severe headache
Fever
Stiff neck
Nausea
Vomiting
Sensitivity to light
Altered mental state

Viral Meningitis

This type of meningitis is caused by inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This is the most common form of the disease.

Viral meningitis is a viral infection and can be caused by viruses like mumps and herpes simplex. Some common symptoms may include:

Headaches
Fever
Sensitivity to light
Neck stiffness

Fungal Meningitis

This is a rare and particularly dangerous form of meningitis that affects the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. It can occur when certain types of fungi enter the body, often through inhalation or contaminated medications.

Fungal meningitis is usually seen in people with compromised immune systems, such as people suffering from AIDS or those taking medications that suppress immune system function.

Examples of the fungi that can cause these infections include:

Cryptococcus
Histoplasma
Coccidioides

Parasitic Meningitis

Victims contract parasitic meningitis through contaminated water or food. Complications from parasitic meningitis could include loss of coordination, weakness, paralysis, coma and even death. Unfortunately, treatments for this form of the disease often do not work, and there are not many treatment options.

How Can Doctors Make a Timely Diagnosis of Meningitis?

If doctors take too long to diagnose meningitis, it can be deadly. That is why doctors need to pay close attention to the telltale signs of this disease:

Stiff neck
Elevated heart rate
High fever
Increased irritability
Rash or other forms of skin irritation

Doctors need to be particularly careful when evaluating children and infants who exhibit symptoms of meningitis, such as:

Yellowish skin caused by liver failure
Soft spot at the front of the head
Difficulty waking up from sleep
Not eating as much as normal
Increased irritability
Low energy

Doctors need to do a physical examination to identify the child’s symptoms and order tests, including a spinal tap or lumbar puncture to discover inflammation. Once doctors collect the sample of fluid, they measure glucose, proteins and white blood cells. They also use stains, cultures or polymerase chain reaction tests to discover pathogens.

Other diagnostic tools include:

Blood cultures to find bacterial or viral infections
CT scans
MRIs

Once the condition is diagnosed, doctors can begin IV treatment, administering medications like antibiotics and possibly supplementing the patient’s oxygen.

How Could Doctors Misdiagnose Meningitis?

There are many reasons why doctors might misdiagnose or fail to diagnose meningitis, leading to delays in treatment that could prove fatal:

Early Symptoms Are Not Specific to Meningitis: Early symptoms of meningitis, such as headache, fever, and nausea, are common with many other illnesses, such as the flu or migraines. This makes it difficult to determine if the patient has meningitis because it is hard to rule out more common medical conditions.
Atypical Symptoms: Some patients do not exhibit the classic triad of fever, headache and neck stiffness. Some may present with few or subtle symptoms. This makes it much harder to make an accurate diagnosis.
Meningitis Looks Like Other Severe Illnesses: Conditions like encephalitis, brain abscesses or even severe migraines can mimic the symptoms of meningitis.
Negative Tests: When doctors test patients who are in the early stages of meningitis, doctors might not find anything abnormal.
Rapid Progression: Bacterial meningitis can progress quite rapidly, causing severe symptoms before doctors can do the required tests.
Lack of Awareness: In some cases, healthcare providers may not consider meningitis in their differential diagnosis, especially if patients present atypical symptoms or doctors do not have good reason to suspect an infectious disease.

While diagnosing meningitis may come with some challenges, doctors may fail to perform the necessary tests, especially when they observe certain symptoms. For instance, some patients may experience a muscle spasm that causes their neck to arch back. Others experience sensitivity to light, rapid breathing and changes in their mental state.

While doctors often make mistakes when diagnosing illnesses, these mistakes may not constitute medical malpractice. Your lawyer must establish that doctors failed to meet the standard of care for the situation, such as by failing to order tests or conduct a physical examination. They could also misread test results.

Why Meningitis Misdiagnosis is so Dangerous?

Meningitis can progress quickly, causing severe and life-threatening complications, such as:

Septicemia
Brain damage
Hearing loss
Seizures
Hydrocephalus
Limb amputation

While anyone who contracts meningitis is at high risk of severe injury, the risk is even higher for vulnerable populations like the elderly, children and those with compromised immune systems.

Misdiagnosis not only prevents treatment of the disease, but it can also result in dangerous medical interventions. If doctors try to treat a viral infection in someone who has bacterial meningitis, it could be fatal.

FAQ’s About Failure to Diagnose Meningitis

When does a meningitis misdiagnosis become medical malpractice in Baltimore?

A meningitis misdiagnosis may qualify as medical malpractice when a doctor or healthcare provider in Baltimore fails to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure leads to delayed treatment, worsening condition, or preventable harm.

How do you prove a meningitis misdiagnosis claim in Baltimore?

To prove a claim, you must show that a Baltimore healthcare provider breached the standard of care and that this directly caused injury. This typically involves medical records, expert testimony, and evidence linking the delay or error to the outcome.

What compensation can be recovered in a Baltimore meningitis misdiagnosis case?

Victims may recover damages for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs, depending on the severity of the injury and its impact on daily life.

How long do you have to file a meningitis malpractice lawsuit in Maryland?

Maryland law sets strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice claims. These time limits depend on when the injury was discovered, making it important to speak with a lawyer promptly to avoid losing the right to file.

Can a Baltimore hospital be held liable for meningitis misdiagnosis?

Yes. A hospital may be held liable if its staff, systems, or procedures contributed to the misdiagnosis, such as failures in testing, communication, or timely evaluation of symptoms.

Why are medical experts important in a meningitis malpractice case?

Medical experts help establish what a competent provider should have done under similar circumstances and whether that standard was violated. Their analysis is often required to support a malpractice claim.

Can families file a wrongful death claim for meningitis misdiagnosis in Baltimore?

Yes. If a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis contributed to a loved one’s death, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim to recover financial and emotional damages.

What should you do if you suspect a meningitis misdiagnosis in Baltimore?

Seek immediate medical attention first. Then consult a Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer to review your case, preserve evidence, and determine whether you have a valid claim.

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Questions About a Meningitis Misdiagnosis?

If your medical condition worsened due to misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose, doctors and other health care providers may be liable for damages.

At The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl, our knowledgeable attorneys may be able to advocate for your legal rights at no upfront cost. We represent those injured by medical malpractice and have a proven record of securing compensation.

Call our office today for legal assistance: 410-297-0271. Free legal consultation.