Back pain can be debilitating. It can have a significant impact on your quality of life and lead you to the doctor to get relief. For some people, relief comes in the form of prescription drugs such as methylprednisolone acetate steroid shots.
However, some people who recently took methylprednisolone acetate steroid shots in the United States have suffered an unintended side effect: they have developed fungal meningitis from steroid shots. Meningitis is an infection of the membranes around the brain or spinal cord. It can cause significant headaches, fever, and death.
What Caused Back Pain Patients to Develop Meningitis?
Certain batches of the methylprednisolone acetate steroid shots from the pharmacy known as the New England Compounding Center may have been contaminated with fungal meningitis. When patients were injected with the steroids, some developed this life-threatening disease.
How Big is the Problem?
By mid-October 2012, 16 people had died and 233 people had developed meningitis in 23 states. As of October 16, 2012 there were no confirmed cased of fungal meningitis related to methylprednisolone acetate steroid shots in Wisconsin. However, the outbreak has spread to Illinois and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Public Health has sent an alert to hospitals and local health departments to warn them of the potential risk in this state. CBS news has reported that the pharmacy that distributed the injections is licensed in all 50 states and that other cases may develop. It is estimated that about 14,000 people in the United States may have been given injections contaminated with meningitis.
Injured Due to Dangerous Drugs or Defective Medical Devices? Contact Our Milwaukee Drug Injury Lawyer for a Free Consult
Were you or a loved one recently suffer injuries due to dangerous drugs or defective medical equipment? If so, then it is time to contact our drug injury lawyer in Milwaukee for a free consultation. Our team has been practicing law in Wisconsin for over 50 years, and have seen every type of injury associated with pharmaceutical companies.
To schedule a consult with our experienced Milwaukee drug injury lawyer, start an online chat, fill out our convenient contact form or call 1 (800) 800-5678 today!