Question

A 6-year-old boy presents with a high fever, a headache, and a stiff neck. He is conscious, but is not acting as a normal 6-year-old boy should. His mother told you that he vomited once before your arrival. You should be MOST concerned with:

a) Meningitis
b) Febrile seizure
c) Dehydration
d) Encephalitis

Answer 1

The most concerning condition for a 6-year-old boy with a high fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and behavior changes is meningitis. It is an infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord that can be life-threatening if not treated urgently.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 6-year-old boy presents with symptoms that include a high fever, headache, and stiff neck, in addition to vomiting and altered behavior. These symptoms are highly suggestive of meningitis, a serious infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by various pathogens, with viral causes often resolving on their own, while bacterial causes like Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis can lead to severe outcomes such as brain damage or even death without prompt treatment.

Fever combined with headache, neck stiffness, and signs of central nervous system involvement point to meningitis as the most concerning diagnosis in comparison to febrile seizure, dehydration, or encephalitis, which although serious, the presented symptoms specifically point more towards meningitis.