Child’s meningitis misdiagnosed as ear infection

After nine month old Amy had been acting differently, her mother took her to A&E where she was diagnosed with an ear infection. She was given medication and sent home.

Two days after this, Amy’s temperature soared and she became floppy. She was also not eating or drinking. It was only when Amy’s mother took her back to the hospital she realised how serious Amy’s condition was. Her daughter was placed into an induced coma.

The hospital diagnosed Amy with Sepsis at first, and then meningitis. She was able to go home 18 days later.

Amy has recovered and is now healthy – however it is unclear whether or not the illness will have left her with any long-term effects.

The Meningitis Research Foundation is campaigning for parents to be given more information and advice about meningitis and sepsis in order to help increase urgency and monitoring for when these cases do arise. Amy’s mother is strongly supporting the foundation after her daughter’s misdiagnosis almost cost her her life.

She thinks that had hospital staff told her to look out for certain symptoms, such as floppiness, she would have brought Amy is much sooner.

The issue for doctors and nurses is that many of the early symptoms of meningitis and sepsis are very similar to some of the symptoms of common viral illnesses such as the flu.

Julie Crossley an Associate in the Medical Negligence team at Ashtons Legal comments: “Fortunately for Amy she does not appear to have had any immediate effects from the infection, although it is understood any long term effects might not be known for some time. Tragically, any delay in diagnosis of meningitis can lead to loss of limbs and in the worst case scenario loss of life and whilst the public are now much more aware of potential symptoms, GP’s and front line services have a duty to properly advise patients of what to look out for, and to advise patients to return if there is concern. This would help to avoid serious or fatal injury and avoid litigation.”