Diagnose It Answer — April 3, 2026
ALL CLUES
22-year-old college student brought in by roommate with severe headache described as 'the worst of my life,' fever, and neck stiffness.
Symptoms developed rapidly over 6 hours. Lives in a college dormitory. No recent travel. Vaccination history unknown.
Temp 39.8°C, HR 124, BP 88/54, RR 22. Patient is photophobic and phonophobic. GCS 13.
Positive Kernig's sign and Brudzinski's sign. Non-blanching petechial rash noted on trunk and lower extremities.
WBC 22,000 with left shift. LP shows cloudy CSF, elevated protein, low glucose, WBC 850 (predominantly neutrophils). Gram stain pending.
Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the meninges requiring immediate antibiotic administration — nurses must not delay treatment waiting for LP results if the patient is deteriorating. The classic triad is fever, neck stiffness, and altered mental status, with a CSF WBC count above 1,000 cells/mcL strongly suggesting bacterial etiology. Non-blanching petechiae suggest meningococcal disease and indicate septicemia; nursing priority includes droplet isolation precautions and close neurological monitoring.
Play the latest puzzle to keep your streak going.
PLAY LATEST PUZZLE →