Bacterial meningitis without clinical signs of meningeal irritation

• Published in: Southern medical journal (Birmingham, Ala.) Vol. 75; no. 4; p. 448
• Main Authors: Geiseler, P J, Nelson, K E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.1982
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Haemophilus Infections - diagnosis; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Meningitis - cerebrospinal fluid; Meningitis - diagnosis; Meningitis, Meningococcal - diagnosis; Pneumococcal Infections - diagnosis; Salmonella Infections - diagnosis

A clinical diagnosis of meningitis in neonates is difficult because of paucity of physical findings. In older infants and children, nuchal rigidity, Kernig's or Brudzinski's sign, or bulging fontanelles are sought. A review of 1,064 cases of bacterial meningitis beyond the neonatal period...