Bacterial meningitis physical examination: Difference between revisions
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*Altered mental status-not oriented in time, place and person | *Altered mental status-not oriented in time, place and person | ||
====Vital signs==== | ====Vital signs==== | ||
*Bradycardia may indicate increased intracranial pressure | *[[Bradycardia]] may indicate increased intracranial pressure | ||
*Increased or decreased temperature | *Increased or decreased temperature | ||
====HEENT==== | ====HEENT==== | ||
*Signs of infection indicating sinusitis, mastoiditis, and otitis media may help identify the source of infection and give a clue about diagnosis. | *Signs of infection indicating sinusitis, mastoiditis, and otitis media may help identify the source of infection and give a clue about diagnosis. | ||
*Papilledema may indicate increased intracranial pressure. | *[[Papilledema]] may indicate increased intracranial pressure. | ||
*Neck stiffness is strongly suggestive of meningitis. | *Neck stiffness is strongly suggestive of meningitis. | ||
====CVS==== | ====CVS==== | ||
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There are two special tests for meningitis: | There are two special tests for meningitis: | ||
*[[Kernig's sign]] | *[[Kernig's sign]] | ||
:*Postive kernig's sign indicate meningitis. | |||
*[[Brudzinski's sign]] | *[[Brudzinski's sign]] | ||
:*Positive brudzinski's sign may suggest meningitis with a sensitivity of and specificity of | |||
===Infants=== | ===Infants=== | ||
Revision as of 16:03, 9 January 2017
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Bacterial meningitis Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S[2]
Overview
Physical examination
Adults
The physical examination findings in adults may include the following:
General appearance
- Patient may look distressed
- Altered mental status-not oriented in time, place and person
Vital signs
- Bradycardia may indicate increased intracranial pressure
- Increased or decreased temperature
HEENT
- Signs of infection indicating sinusitis, mastoiditis, and otitis media may help identify the source of infection and give a clue about diagnosis.
- Papilledema may indicate increased intracranial pressure.
- Neck stiffness is strongly suggestive of meningitis.
CVS
- Decreased heart rate indicates increased intracranial pressure
CNS
- Signs of neurological deficit may not be present.
Skin
- Presence of skin rash may indicate Neisseria meningitidis infection
Special tests
There are two special tests for meningitis:
- Postive kernig's sign indicate meningitis.
- Positive brudzinski's sign may suggest meningitis with a sensitivity of and specificity of
Infants
- Neck stiffenss
- Altered mental status
- Bulging fontanelle
- Convulsions