What causes fever neck pain and headache?
1. Stiff neck with a severe headache or fever. Having a stiff neck and flu-like symptoms could be a sign of meningitis, a serious condition that occurs when the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord become infected and inflamed.
What does it mean when your throat neck and head hurts?
One of the most common causes of a sore throat and neck pain is a bacterial or viral infection. This could be in the tonsils, the esophagus, or the trachea, and an infection will contribute to painful swelling in the neck and throat.
What part of neck hurts with meningitis?
This is caused by swelling located in the back of your neck, behind your skull, that you may be able to feel. Neck pain from meningitis can be accompanied by a feeling of tenderness or soreness in the affected area. It may also come with a throbbing or persistent headache.
What does a meningitis headache feel like?
A headache caused by meningitis is typically described as severe and unrelenting. It does not subside by taking an aspirin. Stiff neck. This symptom most commonly involves a reduced ability to flex the neck forward, also called nuchal rigidity.
What are 5 symptoms of meningitis?
Symptoms of meningitis
- a high temperature (fever)
- being sick.
- a headache.
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- a stiff neck.
- a dislike of bright lights.
- drowsiness or unresponsiveness.
- seizures (fits)
How can you rule out meningitis at home?
Gently and slowly push on the back of your neck so that your head moves forward. For better results, have someone do this for you. Note if your hips and knees flex involuntarily as you raise your head. This is a positive Brudzinski sign, meaning that you may have meningitis.
When should I worry about headaches and neck pain?
Headaches that get steadily worse. Changes in personality or mental function. Headaches that are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, decreased alertness or memory, or neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures.
When should I worry about neck and sore throat?
People should see their doctor if they experience a severe or persistent sore throat that does not respond to at-home treatment. They should also seek medical care if they experience severe neck pain that does not go away or spreads to other parts of the body.
What can be mistaken for meningitis?
The most common alternative etiologies that mimic viral meningitis are: erhlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Kawasaki disease, and Lyme meningitis.
How do I check myself for meningitis?
The meningitis glass test
- Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin.
- Spots/rash may fade at first.
- Keep checking.
- Fever with spots/rash that do not fade under pressure is a medical emergency.
- Do not wait for a rash. If someone is ill and getting worse, get medical help immediately.
How do you check for meningitis in the neck?
How do you rule out meningitis?
For a definitive diagnosis of meningitis, you’ll need a spinal tap to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In people with meningitis, the CSF often shows a low sugar (glucose) level along with an increased white blood cell count and increased protein.
What does the start of meningitis look like?
The meningitis “rash” can start as a blanching rash, but nearly always develops into a non-blanching red, purple or brownish petechial rash or purpura, meaning it will not disappear when pressed.
Can neck and head pain be serious?
When Is Headache and Neck Pain Serious? Immediate medical attention is advised in neck pain and headache associated with one or more of the following symptoms: Pain and numbness radiating down one or both arms. Stiff neck with high fever and/or headache.
What does an aneurysm headache feel like?
Doctors often describe the head pain caused by a burst aneurysm as a “thunderclap.” The pain comes on in an instant, and it’s very intense. It will feel like the worst headache of your life. A migraine, on the other hand, tends to come on gradually.
What illness starts with a stiff neck?
Meningitis—which in its most dangerous form is a bacterial infection that causes the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord to be inflamed—is the most common serious condition associated with a stiff neck.
What infections cause neck pain?
Neck pain can also come from rare infections, such as tuberculosis of the neck, infection of the spine bones in the neck (osteomyelitis and septic discitis), and meningitis (often accompanied by neck stiffness).
How can you test for meningitis at home?
Does meningitis come on suddenly?
The first symptoms of meningitis typically happen very quickly – much like the flu, the symptoms of meningitis can come on quite suddenly and progress in a short amount of time.
How do you test yourself for meningitis?
When should I go to the ER for neck pain?
Go to an Emergency Department if you:
Have back or neck pain with fever, chills, changes in appetite or weight loss. Experience lack of bladder control, difficulty urinating or bowel control. Are having trouble sleeping due to severe pain.
Are there warning signs before an aneurysm?
A sudden, severe headache is the key symptom of a ruptured aneurysm. This headache is often described as the “worst headache” ever experienced. In addition to a severe headache, common signs and symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm include: Nausea and vomiting.
What does a stroke headache feel like?
People will often describe a stroke headache as the “worst of my life.” Or they might say that it appeared like a “thunderclap”—a very severe headache that comes on within seconds or minutes. The pain associated with a stroke headache generally doesn’t throb or develop gradually like a migraine.
When should I worry about neck pain?
Seek medical care for neck pain with numbness or loss of strength in the arms or hands or for pain that shoots into a shoulder or down an arm.
How do you know if neck pain is serious?
Contact a health care provider if neck pain:
- Is severe.
- Persists for several days without relief.
- Spreads down arms or legs.
- Comes with headache, numbness, weakness or tingling.