ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

If a patient presents with severe headache and stiff neck, which condition should you suspect?

1. Meningitis

2. Stroke

3. Cerebral aneurysm

4. Sinusitis

The correct answer is: Meningitis

When a patient presents with a severe headache accompanied by a stiff neck, it raises strong suspicion for meningitis. This condition is characterized by inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, often caused by infection. The classic symptoms include a sudden onset of a severe headache and neck stiffness, which can indicate meningeal irritation. In the case of meningitis, the stiff neck results from the irritation of the meninges, making it painful and difficult for the patient to flex their neck forward. Other associated symptoms may include fever, photophobia (sensitivity to light), and altered mental status, which further helps in distinguishing it as a possible diagnosis. While other conditions like stroke or cerebral aneurysm may also cause severe headaches, they typically present with different accompanying symptoms or characteristics. For instance, strokes often include sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body or difficulty speaking, while cerebral aneurysms might feature a sudden, severe headache often described as a "thunderclap" headache, but not necessarily be associated with neck stiffness. Sinusitis tends to involve facial pain and pressure, nasal congestion, and may produce headaches, but does not specifically cause neck stiffness. The combination of a severe headache and stiff neck is particularly indicative of