Developer site: The content shown here is test data.

MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary AI Health Chat Find an Online Doctor
A serene Zen garden with raked sand and smooth stones, symbolising clarity and calm

Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

Back to skin conditions

Meningitis physical examination

Introduction

Physical Examination

Physical Examination

Meningitis is a medical emergency, and referral to a hospital is indicated.

Skin

Rapidly-spreading petechial rash is typical in “meningococcal” meningitis, and may precede other symptoms. The rash consists of numerous small, irregular purple or red spots on the trunk, lower extremities, mucous membranes, conjunctiva, and occasionally on the palms of hands and soles of feet.

Trunk

Extremities

Neurologic

  • Nuchal rigidity is typically assessed with the patient lying supine.
  • Kernig’s sign: Pain is elicited when the knees are passively extended .
  • Brudzinski’s sign: In infants, forward flexion of the neck may cause involuntary knee and hip flexion. Although commonly tested, the sensitivity and specificity of Kernig’s and Brudzinski’s tests are uncertain.[2]
References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 “Dermatology Atlas”.
  2. ↑ Thomas KE, Hasbun R, Jekel J, Quagliarello VJ (2002). “The diagnostic accuracy of Kernig’s sign, Brudzinski’s sign, and nuchal rigidity in adults with suspected meningitis”. Clin. Infect. Dis. 35 (1): 46–52. PMID 12060874.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2], Jesus Rosario Hernandez, M.D. [3].