Final answer:
Carvallo's sign refers to pain in the neck or back that occurs when a patient with meningitis attempts to extend the leg at the knee while the thigh is held in 90 degrees of flexion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carvallo's sign refers to pain in the neck or back that occurs when a patient with meningitis attempts to extend the leg at the knee while the thigh is held in 90 degrees of flexion. This sign is used as an indication of meningeal irritation. It is named after Eduardo Carvallo, a Chilean physician who first described the sign in patients with meningitis.
This clinical sign is one of several indicators used to diagnose meningitis, which is a serious infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Along with neck stiffness and a high fever, Kernig's sign is a noteworthy symptom that medical professionals seek when assessing a potential case of meningitis.