Lyme Disease Misdiagnosis

Lyme Disease Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis of any disease can lead to additional pain and suffering on the part of the patient, but in the case of Lyme Disease it can lead to the illness disseminating: spreading throughout the body and causing a range of complications. If Lyme Disease is identified and diagnosed early, a relatively simple treatment using antibiotics can stop it in its tracks before any further damage is done. However if it is not diagnosed, or mistaken for a different illness, the damage caused by inappropriate treatment, or in some cases a complete lack of treatment can lead to very serious issues for the patient. 

In stage 1 of Lyme Disease, within a week or two of being bitten by an infected tick, the most likely symptom is the bulls-eye rash; Erythema Migrans. While this does not appear on around one in three people, a thorough physical examination of the patient and a discussion about recent activity could help in identifying the disease. 

At stage 2 it is likely that many sufferers will go on to develop chills, headaches and other ‘flu-like symptoms, and in some cases numbness or tingling in parts of the body might develop. While these symptoms do not directly point to Lyme Disease, it is critical that your doctor investigates the potential for the disease at this stage, while it is still relatively easy to treat. 

If the disease is allowed to develop to stage 3 – Late Disseminated Lyme Disease – then the risk to the patient can include brain disorders, arthritis, and even heart problems. This should never occur, as proper medical intervention in the first place should have identified the disease early enough to prevent this late stage occurring. 

In some situations the later stage of the disease may develop because doctors were treating the symptoms of another disease, rather than accurately reading or performing appropriate tests. Sadly there are no points for trying: misdiagnosis or missed-diagnosis – failing to correctly identify and treat a condition is considered as negligent, and compensation can be sought. 

That’s where Universa Law can help – if you have not received the professional medical assistance that you have a right to, and it has led to you suffering, then you could well be eligible to make a claim for compensation, and we will support you throughout the procedure, bringing in medical specialists and disease professionals if needs be. 

Claims of this nature must be submitted within three years, so don’t put it off – contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your Lyme Disease claim – either by calling us free on 0800 999 1374, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choosing to discuss your situation. When you contact us you are under no obligation to continue with the case unless you wish to do so.

We’re here to help – contact us today.