What reasons are there for meningitis being misdiagnosed?

Claims arising from meningitis related negligence tend to revolve around: 

  • Failures in diagnosing the symptoms of meningitis; 
  • A delay in providing treatment for meningitis; 
  • Errors when differentiating between the symptoms of meningitis and flu like symptoms; 
  • Failures in treating bacterial meningitis as an emergency; 
  • Delays and errors when carrying out correct tests and scans; 
  • Delay in providing correct treatment such as antibiotics; 
  • Failure in carrying out physical examination for septicaemia (blood poisoning); often disguised as a purple colour rash; 
  • And other meningitis treatment errors.