Neonatal Meningitis

• Birth Complications
• Neonatal Infections
• Neonatal Meningitis

Meningitis in Babies

Meningitis is an infection of the thin layers covering the brain and spinal cord. According to the National Meningitis Association, there are approximately 1,000 cases of meningitis annually, 80% of which affect infants.

Newborns carry the highest risk for meningitis due to having weaker immune systems. An expecting mother can transfer an infection to her unborn baby during pregnancy or during birth. When a neonatal infection travels through the bloodstream and reaches the brain membranes, it can trigger neonatal meningitis.

Doctors and medical professionals must always test an expecting mother for infections between 35 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. Missing bacteria like Group B Strep or E. Coli put her baby at risk for permanent disabilities like cerebral palsy.

Infants who contract meningitis are at high risk for brain damage, irreversible physical impairments, and death. When these tragic outcomes are the result of a medical provider’s negligence, families can hold them liable for medical malpractice. A birth injury attorney can help investigate and file a legal claim to recover damages and seek justice.

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Birth Injury Malpractice Attorneys

Our top rated birth injury lawyers help families seek justice and compensation for preventable injuries to mothers or their babies during childbirth. If you or your baby suffered preventable harm from mismanaged neonatal infections, don’t hesitate to contact our firm. We can answer difficult legal and medical questions and investigate the facts on your behalf.

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Birth Injury Lawyers
(888) 987-0005

Our Birth Injury Lawyers are available to meet you in your home or the hospital.

Our vast network of medical experts and in-house nursing staff and nurse-attorneys gives us the edge over our competition. When we take your case, we assign you with not just an attorney but an entire medical team. This team includes attorneys, experienced nursing advocates, and seasoned medical experts.

Your team is available to assist with any day-to-day treatment you or your child may need. This includes assistance with obtaining medical records, scheduling doctors’ appointments, providing transportation, and any other problems that may arise.

We offer all of this on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not pay any fees until after we win your case and secure a settlement. Our firm’s unmatched track record of birth injury results sets us apart from other birth injury law firms.

Recent Birth Injury Settlement:
Birth Injury settlement against a hospital in which nurses and physicians failed to properly monitor the mother's blood pressure during delivery causing an HIE event resulting in neonatal seizures and cerebral palsy at birth. Our team of top-rated birth injury lawyers recovered $13,750,000 for the family to help with future medical expenses and developmental therapy.

Million Dollar Results

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What is Neonatal Meningitis?

Meningitis occurs whenever a pathogen (bacteria, virus, parasite, etc.) causes inflammation in the tissue membranes surrounding the brain. These membranes (called meninges) keep in fluid and moisture and keep out harmful bacteria and viruses.

When foreign bacteria or viruses infect the meninges, it can cause swelling around the brain and spinal cord. This places extra pressure on a baby’s fragile organs and restricts their blood flow.

While anyone can contract meningitis, children between 2 months and 2 years old are the most at risk.

Meningitis is a medical emergency requiring urgent treatment. When doctors do not aggressively respond to it, the infection can cause severe complications and even death.

What Causes Neonatal Meningitis?

Meningitis can stem from bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or any other pathogens that cause infection. Most cases of neonatal meningitis stem from harmful bacteria that pass from the mother to the baby.

Various bacteria (including listeria, group B streptococcus, and gram-negative E. coli) often coat the mother’s birth canal during pregnancy. Nearly one in four expecting mothers carry Group B strep bacteria that can lead to meningitis.

Group B streptococci (GBS) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most common causes of neonatal meningitis. In the United States, group B Strep accounts for nearly half of all cases. Neonatal meningitis from E. coli accounts for approximately 20% of cases.

Viral infections like measles, mumps, enterovirus, or herpes virus can also cause meningitis (known as viral meningitis). While less common than bacterial meningitis, this type of infection can have more mild symptoms and resolve with minimal treatment.

Failing to diagnose or treat group B strep or an E coli infection may result in a preventable birth injury. 7 out of 10 children with bacterial meningitis who receive a timely diagnosis and treatment will recover fully. In about 2 out of 11 cases, however, children affected by bacterial meningitis will suffer long-term complications.

Neonatal Meningitis Risk Factors

Newborns and infants are particularly vulnerable to meningitis because of their undeveloped immune system.

Other risk factors for meningitis infections in infants and children include:

• Having a weakened immune system (immunocompromised)
• Lack of immunization through vaccinations
• Pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes or a cancer diagnosis.
• Exposure to certain maternal infections
• Extended stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

When a baby is at risk for meningitis, medical providers should act on their suspicions and conduct further testing. Meningitis is extremely dangerous when left untreated and can sometimes have fatal consequences.

What are Symptoms of Meningitis in Infants?

Symptoms of meningitis can be subtle and often don’t appear until several days after a baby has a cold. In other cases, however, signs may pop up suddenly and progress rapidly.

Common Symptoms of Meningitis in Newborns

A newborn with a case of meningitis may display one or more of the following physical symptoms or behaviors:

• Relatively high or low temperature (hypothermia)
• Bulge in the fontanelle (soft spot on top of the baby's head)
• Extreme tiredness
• Bradycardia (low heart rate)
• Sleep Apnea
• Strong negative reaction to physical touch
• Having problems with feeding
• High-pitched or inconsolable crying
• Irritability
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• Seizures or convulsions
• Hypotonia (low muscle tone)
• Sensitivity to bright lights
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiffness or pain in the neck
• Rashes or blotchy skin
• Headaches
• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)

The first sign of meningitis in neonates is often a high fever or seizures. Children 2 to 5 years of age may complain about a backache, stiffness in their neck, or a headache.

Symptoms of neonatal meningitis can also resemble signs of other more common conditions, making the condition difficult to immediately diagnose. Additionally, given that newborns are unable to communicate, healthcare professionals often delay their diagnosis. This can result in potential health risks for the newborn.

What Are Complications of Neonatal Meningitis?

Meningitis can cause serious birth complications within only a few days of infection.

Long-term health issues or fatal complications untreated infant meningitis can cause:

Cerebral Palsy

Prolonged neonatal meningitis can eventually cross the blood-brain barrier and cause permanent brain injuries. Depending on the extent of a child’s brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, they may be unable to move freely.

Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of conditions that disrupt a person’s muscle movement. It stems from damage to different parts of the brain like the cerebrum, cerebellum, and motor cortex. A severe neonatal meningitis infection can induce cerebral palsy symptoms like paralysis, hypotonia, delayed reflexes, and abnormal walking patterns.

About Cerebral Palsy

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Organ Damage

In addition to brain damage at birth, a neonatal meningitis infection can harm other organs in the baby’s body. Damage to the child's heart is especially common because the widespread inflammation affects its ability to pump blood. Adrenal gland damage and kidney damage are also common complications of a meningitis infection.

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Vision Loss

The severe inflammation from neonatal meningitis can damage the baby’s optic nerve (the link between the eye and the brain). It can also affect the brain’s visual cortex (located in the occipital lobe), resulting in cortical visual impairment (CVI).

About Vision Impairments

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Neonatal Seizures

The severe inflammation from neonatal meningitis can trigger abnormal electrical activity within the baby’s brain. This can cause neurons to fire unexpectedly and result in short, jerky movements and a loss of consciousness. Babies who experience seizures have a higher risk for an epilepsy diagnosis later in childhood.

About Neonatal Seizures

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Sepsis

The same bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause neonatal sepsis, which is widespread inflammation of the bloodstream. Systemic inflammation can cause critical organ failure within a very short period.

Healthcare providers must be aware of the risk of brain and spinal inflammation travelling to the bloodstream. Responding quickly to the initial meningitis infection can prevent a more serious septic response from the body.

About Neonatal Sepsis

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Developmental Delays

A child’s brain injury from a neonatal meningitis infection can lead to long term disabilities later in childhood. For example, they may not crawl, sit upright, or take their first steps as fast as other children. Speech impairments and language disorders are also incredibly common in children with brain damage at birth.

A combination of developmental delays may make it harder for these children to focus in school. A specialist may diagnose them with learning or behavioral disorders if they struggle with holding attention.

About Developmental Delays

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Wrongful Death

In the most extreme and tragic cases, a newborn may succumb to their injuries from a neonatal meningitis infection. This outcome is most likely when healthcare professionals miss the early signs of infection or delay treatment for any reason.

About Infant Wrongful Death

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A doctor’s quick response to neonatal meningitis symptoms can mean the difference between a full recovery and long-term damage.

How is Neonatal Meningitis Diagnosed?

Most physicians will first assess an infant's head movement or neck flexibility to diagnose meningitis. But an accurate diagnosis of meningitis involves lab tests conducted in the family doctor's office or emergency room.

If a doctor suspects that a child has meningitis, they will likely take the following steps to verify a diagnosis:

• Spinal tap or Lumbar Puncture
• Blood Test
• Neuroimaging via CT Scan and MRI Scan
• Neurological examination
• Physical exam

The most widely accepted method to test for meningitis is through a spinal tap via lumbar puncture. This procedure involves inserting a hollow needle into the lower back to remove a sample of spinal fluid.

A doctor can test the fluid for infection to determine whether a virus or bacteria is present. With a spinal tap, any indication of inflammation will also be apparent. While this procedure may seem scary, it is often the most important step in correctly diagnosing meningitis.

Additionally, blood testing such as Complete Blood Count (CBC), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and blood cultures can also detect meningitis.

Many bacterial and viral infections can transfer from the mother to the infant during delivery. Because meningitis can be especially harmful to a pregnant woman and her baby, it is essential for doctors to accurately diagnose a maternal infection and provide proper treatment to protect the baby.

How is Neonatal Meningitis Treated?

A physician should immediately provide proper treatment when an infant has a meningitis infection. Depending on several factors, a doctor may recommend the following treatment options:

• Intravenous (IV) Antibiotics (if the infection is bacterial)
• IV Fluid Therapy
• Steroids - Corticosteroids to decrease swelling around the brain
• Supplemental Oxygen (Oxygen through a face mask to help with breathing)

A doctor will typically keep children with bacterial meningitis for a few days in the hospital. During this time, they will receive IV antibiotics and fluids to replace fluids lost from sweating, vomiting, and poor eating. Children with viral meningitis caused by the herpes simplex virus may also require hospitalization.

Viral meningitis symptoms and complications tend to be less serious than bacterial meningitis effects. However, the infection will still be severe for young babies under three months. Treatment length and specific antibiotics used will depend on the child's age and the type of bacteria present.

When bacterial meningitis goes untreated, it can attack nerve and brain function and cause irreparable damage.

Did Doctors Mismanage My Child’s Infection?

In the neonatal period, there are many possible causes of meningitis. A lack of appropriate sanitation and hygiene in the hospital is one such cause of meningitis in newborns. Examples include unnecessary blood draws or inadequate sanitation of equipment used for procedures. Improper management of a bacterial maternal infection like group B strep is another common cause.

When a newborn travels through an infected maternal genital tract, it increases the chances of contracting meningitis. Prior to delivery, a mother with Group B Strep must receive Prophylactic Treatment. Should an infection develop, a doctor must monitor the newborn for signs of brain damage and deliver prompt treatment.

Examples of medical negligence that can result in neonatal meningitis include:

• Failing to adequately monitor a mother's or newborn's health throughout the pregnancy
• Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose group B strep
• Failing to pay close attention to symptoms of meningitis after delivery
• Failing to test for bacterial meningitis when symptoms are present
• Failing to perform a timely spinal tap or lumbar puncture
• Failing to prescribe antibiotics or administering the wrong antibiotic
• Inadequate communication between medical professionals involved in the care of a mother and her newborn

If you believe a mistreated infection led to your baby’s meningitis diagnosis, contact one of our birth injury attorneys. We can help you determine the strength of your case and explain your legal rights and options.

Families who have experienced the effects of birth injuries from negligent medical care deserve to know whether they were avoidable. Our top rated birth injury lawyers help you seek justice and compensation for preventable injuries by proving medical negligence occurred. We handle medical malpractice cases involving birth injuries to babies and for mothers injured from mismanaged infections.

What Is the Statute of Limitations in a Birth Injury Case?

A statute of limitations (SOL) is a law that sets a time limit on how long an injured person has to file a lawsuit after an accident.

It is essential to understand that statutes of limitations vary based on the case and the state where you file. For instance, the deadline for birth injury claims is typically different from other claims, such as injury to private property.

Generally, the clock starts ticking on the date the injury occurred. However, there are exceptions to this rule. In some cases, the statute of limitations starts when a person discovers or reasonably should have discovered an injury. When dealing with government agencies, SOLs can become even more complex.

For example, if the party that injured you was:

• A federal employee
• Employed by a military hospital, Veterans Administration facility, or a federally funded medical entity

You may need to file a birth injury claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). In FTCA cases, claimants must go through certain administrative procedures before filing a lawsuit. In some states, you may have less time to give notice if:

• The negligent party was a local or state government hospital
• The doctors and medical providers are employees of a governmental entity

If you file your case outside of the statute of limitations, the court will typically dismiss it. This means you will not be eligible to recover compensation for you or your child’s injuries.

Determining when a statute of limitations begins on your case can be tricky. Our birth injury lawyers can help inform you of all the important filing cutoff dates in your state. We will help your family seek justice and compensation for preventable injuries to you or your baby.

How Can Our Birth Injury Attorneys Help?

A missed maternal infection or neonatal infection can cause severe and irreversible birth injuries. Families can receive compensation to treat these injuries when they are the result of medical malpractice. However, it takes an expert review of the facts of your birth to determine whether medical professionals made preventable errors.

Our Process

Our team of committed attorneys, nurses and paraprofessionals works to answer these questions and seek compensation. We use our detailed medical negligence case review process to assess your potential birth injury case.

We start by learning more about your pregnancy by gathering records to determine what happened before and during your delivery. This includes evaluating prenatal testing procedures and any preventative action taken during labor and delivery such as providing antibiotics.

We will call in skilled medical experts who review your records and provide insight into where medical professionals went wrong. If we feel medical negligence caused your baby’s infection, we contact you to discuss further. We will help your family seek justice and compensation for preventable injuries by proving medical negligence occurred.

At no point in our legal intake process will we ask you to pay anything. The medical review of your case and the consultation are free. We only receive payment once you do. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can investigate your case and gather the evidence to support your claim.

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay any legal fees until we win your case. We do not purse any medical malpractice cases unless we fully believe we can win.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation by calling our toll-free line at (888) 987-0005. You can also reach us by filling out our online request form.