StraighterLine Microbiology Practice Test

Headache and stiff neck are classic signs and symptoms of meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges. When these membranes become inflamed, often due to infection by viruses or bacteria, individuals typically experience a severe headache accompanied by a rigid neck. The stiffness in the neck can make it painful or difficult to bend the head forward, often referred to as nuchal rigidity.

Other symptoms of meningitis may include fever, sensitivity to light, and altered mental status, but the combination of a headache and a stiff neck is particularly characteristic of this condition. This reflects the body's response to inflammation and irritation in the central nervous system caused by the infection.

While other options may present with various symptoms that can occur in different medical conditions, they do not directly highlight the hallmark features of meningitis as significantly as head and neck symptoms do. For example, a skin rash may occur in certain types of meningitis, especially bacterial meningitis caused by meningococcal infections, but it is not as definitive as the combination of headache and stiff neck.