Last Updated on March 20, 2025 by tanya

Missed Tuberculosis Diagnosis

 

Can I Claim Compensation If There Was Negligence?

 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection and a missed tuberculosis diagnosis can result in serious health complications. While it is known to affect the lungs, it can also spread to the spine, brain and kidneys.

Apart from spreading to other parts of the body, it is also a public health risk. This means if you have active TB, you could infect another person who has close contact with you. There is latent TB which is not contagious and active TB which is contagious.

However if there has been medical negligence in the form of a missed diagnosis, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, you may be eligible to file a claim. First Personal Injury can help you with the claims process and gaining compensation.

 

Missed Diagnosis Or Misdiagnosis

 

A missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis occurs when a patient has TB, but there has been failure to identify it. This can happen for several reasons:

 

Non-Specific Symptoms – The symptoms of TB, such as a persistent cough, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, and fever, can resemble other respiratory illnesses. These may include pneumonia, bronchitis, or even lung cancer.

Lack of Awareness or Consideration – In some cases, particularly in low-incidence areas, medical professionals may not immediately suspect TB. If a patient does not fit the typical risk profile, such as being immunocompromised or from a high-incidence region, doctors may overlook the possibility of TB.

Inadequate or Incorrect Testing – TB is diagnosed through skin, chest x-rays and sputum tests. If these tests are not carried out, a diagnosis may be missed.

False Negative Test Results – Diagnostic tests for TB can sometimes produce false negatives. This may particularly occur in early infection stages or in immunocompromised patients. TB may be incorrectly ruled out if diagnosis is based on just one test.

Misinterpretation of Imaging Results – Chest X-rays may show abnormalities such as lung infiltrates, which can be mistaken for cancer or bacterial pneumonia. If a medical professional does not suspect TB, they may diagnose a different condition instead.

Extrapulmonary TB Misdiagnosis – When TB affects other organs, symptoms vary widely. For example, TB in the spine (Pott’s disease) can mimic arthritis or a spinal tumour. In these types of cases, patients may receive incorrect treatments.

 

Delayed Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

 

A delayed diagnosis happens when TB is eventually diagnosed, but only after a significant period, during which the disease has progressed. Contributing factors may include:

Failure to Recognize Risk Factors – Healthcare providers may not take a thorough patient history to identify TB risk factors, such as prior exposure, travel history, or immunosuppression (e.g., HIV infection).

Slow Laboratory Test Results – TB cultures can take several weeks to grow in a laboratory. While rapid molecular tests are available, not all healthcare facilities have immediate access to them, leading to delays in confirmation.

Delayed Referral to a Specialist – If a general practitioner does not suspect TB, they may not refer the patient to a specialist in infectious diseases or respiratory medicine.

 

Understanding The Two Forms Of TB

 

TB exists in two forms: latent and active.

Latent TB: This is when bacteria remains in the body but is dormant. The person does not experience symptoms and is not contagious. However, latent TB can progress to active TB is the immune system is weakened.

Active TB: The bacteria multiply, causing symptoms and making the patient contagious. Without treatment, active TB can be life-threatening.

Since latent TB does not present symptoms, it is often missed unless detected through routine screening.

 

A ‘No Win, No Fee’ Claim For Compensation

 

If a missed, misdiagnosed, or delayed diagnosis of TB results in harm, patients may be entitled to claim compensation for medical negligence. To establish a medical negligence, you must demonstrate the medical professional failed to provide a reasonable standard of care.

Further, that this failure is directly linked to the harm caused and worsened outcome. This may include disease progressions, severe complications or unnecessary treatments. Compensation generally covered your medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.

 

If you or a loved one have suffered through no fault of your own and are considering making a claim, contact First Personal Injury. We can guide you through the process to get the compensation you deserve. We work with experienced lawyers who work on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis. Call us at 0333 358 2345 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.