Misdiagnosing some serious diseases

New York patients struggling to receive a correct diagnosis may face problems. Some illnesses are misdiagnosed at a much higher rate than others, such as celiac disease, Lyme disease and endometriosis. These three conditions require an elimination of symptoms, which means that patients are often inappropriately diagnosed multiple times before the correct diagnosis is arrived at.

Celiac disease is defined as an autoimmune disorder that makes the patient extremely intolerant of gluten protein found in wheat and many common food products. This condition may cause bloating, irregular bowels and abdominal pain. Other symptoms include joint pain, seizures and mouth sores, making the condition difficult to diagnose. Lyme disease is a serious illness that is often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia. Lyme causes cognitive impairment as well as pain and insomnia, making its side effects difficult to identify.

Endometriosis is a condition that results in high infertility rates, excessive menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation and pain during bowel movements, in addition to other types of discomfort. Endometriosis causes menstrual blood to build up in the fallopian tubes and often requires a hysterectomy to cure. The further that endometriosis spreads, the more likely it is to require the removal of the uterus.

A doctor's failure to diagnose an illness can often result in a worsened medical condition and a bleaker prognosis, as the disease may have spread too rapidly to be effectively treated. A patient or a deceased patient's surviving family members who have been harmed in such a manner may want to have the assistance of a medical malpractice attorney when seeking compensation for the losses that have been sustained.