Meningitis B

Is your medical treatment negligent?

There are many different strains and causes of meningitis.   Meningitis B is the most commonly suffered strain.   The UK will be the first country in the world to introduce the meningitis B vaccination as part of its routine childhood vaccination programme.  It is hoped that the vaccination will significantly reduce the number of cases.   However, the risk of meningitis B remains present and people should be vigilant about the symptoms.  Medical advice should be sought if you, or a family, have any of the symptoms described in this blog.

Meningitis B: the problem

In the UK, Meningitis B is fatal in 1 in 10 cases and approximately 1 in 4 of those who survive is left with lifelong problems such as amputation, deafness, or a brain injury with various effects such as epilepsy.

Meningitis B is a type of meningococcus bacteria, which is a major cause of life-threatening meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), and the leading infectious killer of young children in the UK¹.  There are hundreds of different strains of meningitis B but it is believed that the new vaccine will provide protection against 90% of these².

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is caused by either a bacterial or viral infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.  The infection causes these membranes, known as meninges, to become inflamed.  Meningitis is more common in children but can also affect adults.

What are the symptoms?

Meningitis B can be difficult to diagnose as it may come on suddenly and its symptoms are vague. It can be confused with other less serious conditions.   It is imperative that medical help is sought as soon as possible on seeing the symptoms, particularly in a young child.

According to the NICE guidelines on bacterial meningitis³, consideration should also be given to:

• The level of parental/carer concern
• How quickly the illness is progressing
• Clinical judgement of the overall severity of the illness.

It is therefore vital for patients to explain the severity and duration of any symptoms to a medical professional, and for these to be considered carefully.

How is it diagnosed?

Given the seriousness of the condition, a diagnosis of meningitis B is often not confirmed before treatment is commenced.  This is because the results of diagnostic tests take time to be produced, and even a slight delay in treatment can have a serious impact on the patient.  The doctor will usually physically examine the patient to look for any ‘red flag’ (most clear) signs of meningitis and will carry out other tests such as:

• a blood test – to check for the presence of bacteria or a virus that can cause meningitis
• a lumbar puncture – where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from the base of the spine under local anaesthetic so that this can be tested for the presence of bacteria or a virus
• a computerised tomography (CT) scan – if there are any other suspected problems, such as brain damage
• a chest X-ray – to look for signs of infection

Treating meningitis

Treatment for meningitis or septicaemia should be started as soon as the condition is suspected.  The type of treatment provided will depend on whether the meningitis is bacterial or viral and the severity of the disease.

Legal Claim: Negligent medical errors

We know that meningitis can have a devastating impact on your life. The effects can cause your life to completely change and you may find it difficult to adjust.  If you have been injured because of medical negligence, you have a right to compensation.

We are able to help patients who have suffered medical negligence with a legal claim. However how do you know whether your treatment was negligent?

In order to succeed in a medical negligence claim you need to prove that:

1. The medical treatment you received was unacceptable, in that no other reasonable body of medical professionals would have given it (this is called ‘breach of duty’), and
2. This unacceptable treatment caused you to suffer an injury that you would not have otherwise suffered, if you had received appropriate care (this is called ‘causation’)

You must prove both elements above in order to show negligence. Reports from independent doctors are used in legal claims to provide evidence on this.

Negligence in meningitis may occur where there is:

• Delay in diagnosing meningitis and / or septicaemia
• Delay in treating meningitis, which in some circumstances should be before the diagnosis is confirmed
• Inappropriate treatment for meningitis and / or septicaemia
• Delay in providing treatment once meningitis and / or septicaemia have been diagnosed

Due to the non-specific symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, people often turn to their GP when they first start feeling unwell.  It may be that symptoms get misinterpreted for a less serious condition such as flu and are not followed up.   If this happens, and meningitis is later diagnosed, it may be that the GP was negligent for failing to investigate further.

In claims for meningitis, it can often be tricky to prove that the unacceptable treatment injured the patient.  This is because it must be proved that at least some of the patient’s injuries are directly caused by the negligent treatment, and not the meningitis itself. For example, you must show that the outcome would have been different had they been treated sooner or better.

When meningitis occurs, the timing of treatment is crucial, and even the slightest delay can have serious consequences.  The longer the delay before meningitis is treated, the more advanced the condition becomes.   This creates a greater likelihood of terrible complications, including a permanent brain injury.

The aim of a legal claim will be financial compensation, to try to put you back in the position you would have been in had the negligence never occurred. Of course, we appreciate that this is not always possible, and we also provide you with access to practical support services, to help you cope both physically and emotionally.

Charity: Support

At Bolt Burdon Kemp we fight to obtain the compensation you need to move forward with your life, and a support structure to help you cope with daily life.

However there are also charitable organisations which can help you and your family come to terms with the consequences of the disease.   Meningitis Now is the UK’s largest meningitis charity, offering support, funding research and raising awareness.   The charity was instrumental in introducing the meningitis B vaccination as part of the childhood immunisation programme in the UK and they continue to raise awareness of the disease.   Their most recent campaign focuses on the need to recognise the symptoms of meningitis and the importance of acting quickly.

^{[1] Meningitis B is a killer http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/meningitis-B-vaccine.aspx}

^{[2] Men B vaccine protection http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/meningitis-B-vaccine.aspx}

^{[3] NICE guidelines [CG102], 2010 ‘Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia: Management of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in children and young people younger than 16 years in primary and secondary care’}

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