🏥 USMLE Exam Prep

Meningitis is suspected when a patient presents with:

A Chest pain and cough
B Fever, headache, neck stiffness (nuchal rigidity), and altered mental status
C Abdominal pain and diarrhea
D Joint pain and rash only

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

Classic meningitis triad: fever, nuchal rigidity, altered mental status (only ~44% have all three). Other signs: Kernig, Brudzinski. LP for diagnosis: CSF analysis (WBC, glucose, protein, Gram stain, culture).

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