All articles tagged with #misdiagnosis
Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare skin cancer that often presents as an itchy, eczema-like rash, leading to years of misdiagnosis—particularly in women aged 50–80. Early biopsy and awareness are crucial for correct diagnosis, as shown by a patient who endured a decades-long struggle before EMPD was identified.
Grace, a 14-year-old from Yorkshire, began experiencing monthly, stabbing abdominal pain at 13 that doctors dismissed as being too young to have endometriosis; after repeated emergency visits and a private second opinion, she underwent a laparoscopy in June which found endometriosis on the back of the uterus and uterosacral ligaments with bowel involvement. While she faces a risk of recurrence, she’s on hormonal treatment to slow growth and has spoken out on TikTok to raise awareness and encourage other young people to advocate for themselves.
A BuzzFeed/Yahoo Life piece rounds up stories from women about doctors saying astonishing, offhand, or harmful things—ranging from misdiagnoses (like an appendix burst dismissed as period cramps) to dismissive attitudes and sexist remarks—highlighting ongoing gender bias and communication gaps in healthcare, with readers invited to share more experiences.
A BBC InDepth feature on the debate over what autism really is, highlighting a surge in diagnoses and questions about misdiagnosis—especially among women and people with learning disabilities—while Dame Uta Frith argues the spectrum is too broad and may fail those needing support, and others push for nuanced subtypes and sharper criteria to protect services and reflect lived experience.
A London woman endured 15 years of crippling, misattributed pain—believed to be just periods—leading to the removal of her appendix and gallbladder before doctors finally diagnosed extensive endometriosis and adenomyosis in July this year; the delays left her in chronic pain and potentially affected fertility, fueling advocacy for listening to women's health concerns.
Functional neurological disorder (formerly hysteria/conversion disorder) causes real, disabling symptoms despite normal brain tests. Neuroscience links symptoms to brain networks that predict movement and sensation, with mismatches driving the disturbance. Though common—millions affected in the US—care access is limited and stigma persists, but multidisciplinary treatments and clinician belief can improve outcomes.
Liv and Molly Smith, sisters from Leamington Spa, endured years of crippling menstrual pain dismissed by doctors as “bad periods” before both ultimately received endometriosis diagnoses following laparoscopic surgery. The experience disrupted schooling, jobs, and intimate relationships, and the sisters emphasize the need for doctors to listen and for more education about the condition. UK experts note noninvasive diagnostic advances under consideration by NICE, but early diagnosis hinges on awareness and proper clinical attention to patients’ symptoms.
A London woman spent 15 years seeking answers for debilitating pain before a July diagnosis revealed endometriosis and adenomyosis, after surgeries removed her appendix and gallbladder—neither of which caused the pain.
A Seattle Children’s Hospital team describes a healthy Washington toddler who was misdiagnosed with vasculitis and given immunosuppressants, delaying the diagnosis of the rare brain amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris for 30 days; by that time the brain was severely damaged, and the child died. The case urges doctors to consider B. mandrillaris in atypical vasculitis and to use CSF infectious testing, including metagenomic sequencing, before immunosuppression.
An 11-year-old UK girl, Armaie “Melly” Burrows-Pitt, was eventually diagnosed with Stage 4 Burkitt lymphoma after doctors initially treated her fatigue and loss of appetite as tonsillitis; she spent 15 days in hospital, then was moved to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she began six months of chemotherapy as the cancer spread to her spleen, liver and bone marrow. Her family, frustrated by the delayed diagnosis, has launched fundraisers to cover treatment costs and support Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House, planning trips and experiences for Melly during treatment.
Jennifer Esposito recounts years of misdiagnoses and severe health problems—including liver failure and a psych ward stay—before doctors diagnosed her with celiac disease; since adopting a strict gluten-free diet, her symptoms eased, her life improved, and she now advocates gut health and a calmer pace of life.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began at least three months before its May 15 declaration and is now outpacing authorities. With more than 1,900 deaths, it ranks as the second-worst outbreak, concentrated in the insecure eastern region where health workers reach only about 30% of cases, and there are no approved vaccines or therapies. Early misdiagnosis as malaria or typhoid helped delay detection as the virus spread.
A Georgia woman filed a lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente after a biopsy misidentified another patient’s tissue, leading to a cancer diagnosis and a total hysterectomy she didn’t need; the seven-month ordeal affected her and her family, while Kaiser says steps have been taken to prevent repeats and is working toward a fair resolution.
Bethenny Frankel said in an Instagram video that a network of medical specialists concluded she had been misdiagnosed with a “pretty major” condition, months after she disclosed a stage 2 chronic kidney disease. While doctors can’t pinpoint a specific cause, she cites possible links to a past traumatic allergy incident, hydration issues, and low blood pressure, and urges others to stay thorough with blood work and their medical care.
Bethenny Frankel says she was misdiagnosed with a major health condition after joining a “very legitimate” medical network that cross-checks lab results and supplements; doctors reportedly are convinced of the misdiagnosis, but she did not specify the condition and urged fans to be thorough with medical care and not rely on ChatGPT for health advice. She has previously disclosed a January diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, noting her condition can be managed with lifestyle changes.