Is it very common for doctors to fail to diagnose an illness?

Sadly, it does happen and generally reflects a failure of competence and diagnostic skill(in not recognizing that the child has unusual but significant symptoms). I hope your baby does well.

I could write a book about the faux pa's and fiascos I saw in my thirty one years of practice in internal medicine(much of it hopsital-based), almost always reflecting lack of competence or, at times, pure laziness and lack of thoroughness. Rare conditions, especially (and this applies to your child) often escape notice by any but the most thorough and knowledgable physicians. We as a species are far from perfect and some of us are very far from being so - and our work performance reflects this.

It is not common, but yes it does happen and it will continue to happen in the future. The trouble is that they simply have to make a clinical diagnosis based on the evidence in front of them at the time.

Perhaps in this case the issue was at which point did the abscess become big enough to be visible enough or obstructive enough to be noticeable. Tests would have been done on both the previous admissions and expert witnesses could make a lot of money arguing the points on this one.

You instincts paid off, she is now well and all is well and she is hopefully thriving again and life is moving forward. So enjoy.

It is always puzzling, I always feel mothers instinctively know. Symptoms can point to many different things and when symptoms that point to something minor but also something serious, I do feel that necessary tests should be done especially regarding babies and small children who can't let anyone know of their exact symptoms.

When my daughter was little she had meningitis and out GP actually sent me home with calpol, but as a mother I just knew, and took her to A&E she was diagnosed with meningococcal septicimia that night, the pedriatrician took me to one side a few weeks later and said she would not have made it through the night if she had of been left, which infuriated me. I suppose the whole situation has changed me into a very over protective panicky mother that always wants a second or third opinion maybe when it is not always needed.

drs practice medicine, its what its called for all of them. if noones dealt with something before they go for what they know to do the best they can. you were right to keep pushing, good girl. its sometimes about insurance coverage that their hands are tied as to what they can do, ask them, is insurance the problem? you can then call your insurance company to see what needs to be done. some insurances dont cover certain things period.yes drs practice to help people but just like u and me wake up and go to work each day ok. hopefull thats the end of the child having problems, happy new years

Not common, but it happens.

NO,it isn't.