Final answer:
A widened mediastinum suggests thoracic or cardiovascular issues, not meningitis. Meningitis symptoms include inflammation of the meninges, and its diagnosis often involves a spinal tap and immediate antibiotic therapy upon suspicion.
Step-by-step explanation:
A widened mediastinum on a chest X-ray is not typically suggestive of meningitis, but rather can indicate a number of different thoracic or cardiovascular issues, such as an aortic aneurysm, mediastinal mass, or other serious conditions like trauma to the thoracic cavity, potentially leading to aortic dissection. Meningitis, on the other hand, is a serious condition that involves the infection and inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is important that meningitis is recognized and treated promptly as it can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in some cases. In the clinical case mentioned, the individual had an infection with Bacillus anthracis, which led to anthrax meningitis, a rare but severe form of meningitis featured by the presence of bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Proper diagnosis and treatment require immediate medical attention, including diagnostic exams like spinal taps to confirm the presence of infection in the cerebrospinal fluid. The treatment regimen would typically include antibiotic therapy immediately upon suspicion of meningitis to prevent further complications or death.