Primary encephalitis from a newborn infection that directly affects the brain can leave parents wondering if there was something that could have been done to prevent complications. Some cases may be caused by Ohio medical malpractice.
What is primary encephalitis?
Encephalitis is the result of an infection and inflammation in the brain. It is caused mostly by viral infections but can also come from bacterial infections. Primary encephalitis is caused by an infectious agent that directly affects the brain. Although the infection can be concentrated in one area, it could also spread.
Can primary encephalitis be caused by Ohio medical malpractice?
In some circumstances it can. It depends on whether or not the doctor was aware of the mother’s risk factors that can lead to newborn infection.
This condition can develop when the mother is infected with a virus, such as Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2). If a doctor is aware that the mother is infected, there are precautions that may be taken to at least reduce risk of passing it to the baby.
One example is performing a cesarean section, as a vaginal delivery may pose a greater risk of transmission when the mother has the condition, especially if symptoms are currently present.
Symptoms that may prompt a doctor to consider cesarean include visible sores on the mother’s vagina or cervix, or complaints of burning, tingling or pain.
When encephalitis is diagnosed in a newborn, it is important to consider if a doctor may have been able to prevent it, or if Ohio medical malpractice such as failure to treat an infection may have contributed to its development.
If so, parents may set up consultation with a lawyer from Mellino Robenalt LLC and may consider filing a medical malpractice claim against a doctor to recover damages related to primary encephalitis from the newborn infection.
