New Jersey Tuberculosis Attorneys

Have a case for Improper Diagnosis or Treatment of Tuberculosis? Our NJ Lawyers will Fight for You

Tuberculosis (or “TB”) is an infamous disease. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that it caused a breathtaking twenty-five percent of all deaths in the United States and Europe in the 1600s to the 1800s. With the introduction of antibiotics and improvements in hygiene in the 1900s, deaths due to tuberculosis began to drop dramatically. However, the CDC still reports thousands of TB cases annually in the United States, with approximately 9,105 cases in 2017 alone. Although the number of TB’s fatalities has been reduced in the modern era, you can still suffer from a TB infection and individuals with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop the disease. In addition, lax medical sanitation and related procedures can increase your risk of being infected. If you have been diagnosed with tuberculosis in New Jersey, it is important to understand how medical malpractice may have contributed to you contracting or further suffering from the disease. In many cases, patients are unaware of potential liability when it comes to TB.

Our experienced team of medical malpractice lawyers at Fronzuto Law Group can further investigate your case if you suspect that inadequate medical care contributed to your tuberculosis or related complications. If a medical professional or facility caused you tuberculosis-related harm in New Jersey, our team will zealously pursue your case for the highest amount of compensation. Contact us at 973-435-4551 for immediate assistance and a receive free consultation.

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a disease most commonly affecting your lungs. The bacteria that causes tuberculosis can spread from person to person through tiny droplets of water expelled by sneezing and coughing. There are two main types of tuberculosis: active TB and latent TB. Latent TB remains in your body, inactive, and does not cause symptoms. It is not contagious, although it can transform into active TB, which is why it is still important to treat it. On the other hand, active TB can result in symptoms within the first few weeks of you initially contracting the TB bacteria. Although antibiotics formerly rendered tuberculosis rare in developed countries, antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis has begun to appear in recent years. This can require people with active strains of drug-resistant TB to take a variety of medications over several months before the infection is fully eliminated.

What are the Symptoms of Tuberculosis?

Some of the most common TB symptoms include:

• Coughing that lasts over three weeks
• Chest pain or pain breathing or coughing
• Coughing up blood
• Unusual weight loss
• Fever
• Sweating
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite

In addition, if tuberculosis is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, the infection can spread to your kidneys, spine, and brain, which alters these classic symptoms. For example, TB affecting the kidneys can cause bloody urine. Similarly, if tuberculosis spreads to the spine, it may cause back pain and other abnormal symptoms. Depending on the specific case, TB can result in a wide variety of complications, including pain in your spine, liver or kidney issues, heart disease, meningitis, and joint damage. It can also be fatal.

Reasons for a Tuberculosis Malpractice Case

Improper medical care can increase the chances that you will suffer from complications related to tuberculosis or contract the disease in the first place. For example, doctors may misdiagnose active TB, placing you and others at risk of the spread of potentially fatal bacteria. Further, delayed treatment can result in TB spreading to other parts of your body or increase the damage to your lungs, liver, heart, and even your brain.

TB outbreaks can occur in hospitals with poor infectious disease controls and sanitation practices. Ventilation problems, improper protective gear, and other unsanitary conditions may cause TB to spread through a hospital and infect you if you are a patient seeking treatment for an unrelated disease or disorder. Hospitals and medical teams may also employ inadequate testing procedures, potentially exposing you and others to the active strain of tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis Lawyers Seeking Compensation for Victims in NJ

If you believe you have contracted TB due to medical malpractice, or a delayed diagnosis worsened your condition, contact a New Jersey tuberculosis malpractice lawyer at our firm to discuss whether you may have valid grounds for a lawsuit. Call 973-435-4551 today to find out more about how we can help with your tuberculosis injury case.