Final answer:
The two physical exam tests used to help diagnose meningitis are lumbar puncture and Gram stain. It helps identify the type of bacteria causing the meningitis by staining the bacteria and examining them under a microscope.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two physical exam tests used to help diagnose meningitis are:
- Lumbar puncture: This involves inserting a needle into the spinal canal to collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for analysis. The fluid is checked for the presence of pathogens in a medical lab.
- Gram stain: This is a laboratory test that can be performed on the cerebrospinal fluid sample.
- It helps identify the type of bacteria causing the meningitis by staining the bacteria and examining them under a microscope.