mis diagnosis

[ausi75]

What is the name of your state? nc

When we lived in NC my daughter got Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I took her to the Dr on 5/2/04 and was told she had Chicken Pox. For the next ten days I called the Dr repetedly stating I didn't think that was it. I was told because of the vaccine she was having different symptoms. When I called because her fever was over 105 and was told I didn't have to worry about brain damage until 106-107 I took her to the ER. The Dr there immediately said it wasn't chicken pox. He said it was likely something viral and didn't know if he'd be able to diagnose it. When he saw the spots on her feet he immediately thought rocky mountain and called another Dr in. They did a blood test and said they wouldn't treat until a positive blood test because of the strong medicine. I was told to take her to the Dr first thing in the AM. I took her to the first Dr and was told it wasn't Rocky Mountain. He conceded that it MIGHT not be chicken pox, but he was sure it wasn't rocky mountain. He also told me the hospital didn't have the blood test back yet and sent me home. Within minutes of getting home the ER Dr called and asked if I'd gone to the first Dr yet because HE NEVER CALLED FOR THE TEST RESULTS! He then told me we needed to get my daughter on medicine right away because we were now on day 11 and they need to diagnose within the first few days. We ended up getting her treated at the ER for most of her treatment. I couldn't get another Dr to take us in the middle of treatment.

Anyway...the first office is still trying to collect a small amount that I'm not paying out of principal. The Dr put my daughter at risk by lieing to me and not doing his job. Can I get them to leave me alone? (I have paid all the hospital bills, however) Someone told me (I don't remember who) I couldn't do anything about the first Drs incompetence because my daughter didn't die. That's ridiculous but...we continue to have problems that will eventually go away because her immune system was wiped down. This has cost us a large sum of money that I feel is because of this first Dr. So why should I pay him this bill? Any suggestions on what I can do to get them to leave me alone as I don't want this to go on my credit report-but I refuse to pay this idiot. Thanks in advance.

 

[ellencee]

ausi75
Pay the physician for his services. His hesitancy to treat Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever before the test results were available is not negligence; and, he would have received the results--the ER had a duty to send the report/findings to the MD to which they referred your daughter (her regular doctor, on Monday) and these ER physicians seem to be astute and reliable healthacare professionals.

So, your daughter received the appropriate treatment at the appropriate time and suffered no significant damage that she would not otherwise have suffered.

The ordinary person would have done as you did and sought treatment through an ER.

Hopefully, not many physicians would make the crass remark about brain damage but would say, "take your kid to the ER, lady. What do expect me to do from here?"

Pay the bill.

EC

 

[ausi75]

Maybe you don't understand...the Dr lied to me...he told me the test results weren't in when they were. He didn't call the hospital. Because of where we were at with the illness the ER called me (luckily). HE LIED. He also prolonged the illness by not letting us come in when I told him I didn't think it was chicken pox. We have health problems now because of this. I started calling the day after the chicken pox diagnosis so he could have caught this when they needed to. I also called EVERY day...often more than once trying to figure out how to help her because she was so sick. I now know that her symptoms did not resemble chicken pox IN ANY WAY! He was incompetent...then he lied to me. When we took her in to have her final blood tests after treatment, he actually told us that wasn't necessary! I'm not paying the bill...period. I just want to know if there's a way to get him to leave us alone on the bill, otherwise I'll just take a hit on my credit. His inability has already cost us thousands of dollars.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

You owe the doctor the money, he will leave you alone once you pay the doctor what they are owed. Post infection complications are common following RMSF and 72% of cases require hospitalization, so your daughter's case was not so serious as to require hospitalization otherwise they would not have sent her home, this could also account for her symptoms resembling measles, not chicken pox. Aside from the antibiotic most treatment is supportive. The reason it is not routinely treated with antibiotics is that RMSF is fairly rare 600-800 cases per year but you happen to live in one of the areas where the most cases occur. Cases are geographically distributed; North Carolina and Oklahoma account for one third of total cases reported. South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia accounted for the third, fourth, and fifth highest number of cases. Less than 2% of the total number of cases are found in the Rocky Mountain states.

The antibiotic is far more likely to cause an adverse reaction that the child having RMSF. Here are two articles on RMSF http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic510.htm
http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic2043.htm

You are just angry because YOU failed to notice the tick bite that caused this serious illness and failed to take reasonable precautions for your child.

http://www.astdhpphe.org/infect/rms.html
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
* Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a serious, generalized illness that is usually spread by the bite of an infected tick.
* Anyone who is exposed to areas where ticks live or to pets with ticks is at risk for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
* Rocky Mountain spotted fever is treatable with antibiotics. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal.
* Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be prevented by: 1) avoiding tick bites, 2) removing attached ticks promptly, and 3) getting early diagnosis and treatment. Did you ever tell you child's doctor about your daughter's tick bite?

What is Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a serious, generalized infection that is usually spread to people by the bite of infected ticks. The disease gets its name from the Rocky Mountain area where it was first identified.

What is the infectious agent that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a specialized bacteria. Ticks infected with the organism transmit the disease to humans.

Where is Rocky Mountain spotted fever found?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is found throughout the United States, except in Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii. Despite the name, few cases are reported from the Rocky Mountain region. Most cases occur in the southeastern United States.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is spread by the American dog tick, the lone-star tick, and the wood tick, all of which like to live in wooded areas and tall, grassy fields. The disease is most common in the spring and summer when these ticks are active, but it can occur anytime during the year when the weather is warm.

How do people get Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

People get Rocky Mountain spotted fever from the bite of an infected tick or by contamination of the skin with the contents of an attached tick when it is removed from the skin. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is not spread from person to person, except rarely by blood transfusion.

What are the signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

People with Rocky Mountain spotted fever get a sudden fever (which can last for 2 or 3 weeks), severe headache, tiredness, deep muscle pain, chills, nausea, and a characteristic rash. The rash might begin on the legs or arms, can include the soles of the feet or palms of the hands, and can spread rapidly to the trunk or the rest of the body.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

Symptoms usually begin 3 to 12 days after a tick bite.

How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever diagnosed?

The disease is diagnosed by special blood tests.

Who is at risk for Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

Anyone who is exposed to tick-infested areas or to tick-infested pets is at risk for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

What complications can result from Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

Without prompt medical care, kidney failure and shock can lead to death.

What is the treatment for Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever must be treated with antibiotics. Many persons with the disease need to be hospitalized.

How common is Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever affects about 800 persons in the United States each year.

Is Rocky Mountain spotted fever a new or emerging infectious disease?

No. However, because of the seriousness of the disease, continued efforts are needed to increase awareness and encourage prevention.

How can Rocky Mountain spotted fever be prevented?

No vaccine is available to protect humans against Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The best way to avoid getting the disease is to avoid areas such as the woods or fields where ticks are found. If this is not possible, you can reduce your risk by taking these precautions:

* Control the tick population on your property. Keep pets tick-free. Mow grass often in yards and outside fences.
* During outside activities in wooded areas and around tall grass, wear long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks.
* Use insecticides to repel or kill ticks. Repellents containing the compound DEET can be used on exposed skin except for the face, but they do not kill ticks and are not 100% effective in discouraging ticks from biting. Products containing permethrin kill ticks, but they cannot be used on the skin -- only on clothing. When using any of these chemicals, follow label directions carefully. Be especially cautious when using them on children.
* After outdoor activities, check yourself for ticks, and have a "buddy" check you, too. Check body areas where ticks are commonly found: behind the knees, between the fingers and toes, under the arms, in and behind the ears, and on the neck, hairline, and top of the head. Check places where clothing presses on skin.
* Remove attached ticks immediately. Removing a tick before it has been attached for more than 4 hours greatly reduces the risk of infection. Use tweezers, and grab as closely to the skin as possible. Do not handle ticks with bare hands. Do not try to remove ticks by squeezing them, coating them with petroleum jelly, or burning them with a match.
* After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site, and wash your hands. See or call a doctor if you think that tick parts may remain in your skin. If you get a fever, headache, rash, or nausea within 2 weeks of a possible tick bite or exposure, see a doctor right away.

This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health-care provider. If you have any questions about the disease described above, consult a health-care provider.