Failure to Diagnose Kawasaki Disease

There are many childhood illnesses that children are vulnerable to. Some illnesses are more serious than others. Most childhood illnesses are easily treatable, or require no medical intervention at all. However, there are some more serious illnesses that can occur in childhood and necessitate prompt medical attention to prevent serious complications from occurring. One example of this is Kawasaki disease. While Kawasaki disease is less common than other childhood diseases, but is becoming more and more common. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent heart damage. If a physician fails to diagnose Kawasaki disease, or diagnoses the Kawasaki disease as something else, it is considered to be negligence if the child suffers harm from a delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis. 

 

What is Kawasaki Disease?

 

Kawasaki disease is also known as mucocuteous lymph node syndrome. Kawasaki disease is a childhood illness that causes the walls of the blood vessels to become chronically inflamed, leading to heart disease if not promptly treated. Besides rheumatic heart disease, Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of heart disease in young children. Acquired heart disease refers to heart problems that are not present at birth but develop at any point during a person’s life.

 

Kawasaki Disease Symptoms

 

There are some symptoms that can indicate that a child has Kawasaki disease. Medical providers are specially trained and should be able to identify a child with these symptoms as possibly having the disease. Symptoms of Kawasaki disease include the following:

 

• High fever
• Lymph node swelling, often in the neck
• Swollen tongue
• Red cracked lips
• Severe rash on the abdomen, chest, and diaper area
• Redness and swelling of the bottom of the feet and palms of the hands
• Swollen, red eyes

 

If left undetected, a child may develop additional symptoms which include the following: 

 

• Joint pain
• Abdominal pain
• Peeling skin on the hands and feet
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

 

While symptoms of Kawasaki disease may resolve without treatment, the child will likely suffer from permanent heart damage if appropriate treatment is not administered due to medical malpractice. 

 

Kawasaki Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

 

The diagnosis of the disease is made based on blood work, exclusion of other diseases such as  juvenile arthritis, tick-borne illnesses and other conditions, and the use of electrocardiogram to detect any abnormalities. Gamma globulin treatment is usually given for this condition. Intravenous administration of gamma globulin can lower the risk of coronary damage and heart damage. Children are given aspirin to reduce inflammation and fever as well. Children are usually hospitalized for treatment of Kawasaki disease.

 

Medical Malpractice Related to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Kawasaki Disease

 

Sadly, doctors do not always detect Kawasaki disease in a timely manner. They may misdiagnose the child as having something else, leading to a delay or even absence in treatment for the condition, leading to permanent heart damage. Examples of medical malpractice in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease include the following:

 

• Failure to diagnose Kawasaki disease
• Failure to provide appropriate treatment for the condition
• Misdiagnosis of Kawasaki disease 
• Failure to administer treatment in a timely manner
• Failure to provide treatment entirely due to a delay in diagnosis of the condition 
• Failure to promptly diagnose and treat, leading to permanent cardiac damage
• Failure to run appropriate testing to diagnose the condition

Medical Malpractice and the Failure to Diagnose Kawasaki Disease

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.