Do I Have Meningitis Quiz
Questions: 15 · 10 minutes
1. Has any recent illness, injury, or procedure created a possible route for infection?
None of these recent events applies.
There has been a recent cold or flu-like illness that is improving normally.
There is a persistent or worsening ear or sinus infection, or another infection near the head.
There has been recent brain or spinal surgery, a serious skull injury, or a known leak of fluid from around the brain or spine.
2. How would you describe the headache, if present?
There is no headache.
It is mild and similar to headaches experienced before.
It is unusually strong, persistent, or worsening.
It is sudden or extreme, or it is rapidly worsening with fever, vomiting, stiffness, or altered awareness.
3. How have nausea, vomiting, or fluid intake changed during this illness?
There is no unusual nausea or vomiting, and fluids stay down.
There is nausea or reduced appetite, but drinking is still manageable.
Vomiting has occurred once or twice, or drinking has become difficult.
Vomiting is repeated, fluids will not stay down, or signs of serious dehydration are appearing.
4. Over the past several hours, how has the overall illness changed?
There is no current acute illness pattern.
Mild symptoms have remained about the same.
Symptoms are clearly worsening or several new symptoms have appeared.
The person is deteriorating rapidly, appears extremely ill, or cannot manage normal basic activities.
5. What happens when the neck is moved normally, without forcing it?
Neck movement feels normal.
There is mild soreness, but the usual range of movement remains.
Pain or stiffness noticeably limits movement.
The neck is extremely stiff or movement is severely restricted alongside acute illness.
6. How is light affecting the person now?
Light feels normal.
Light is mildly uncomfortable in a familiar way.
There is new sensitivity that creates a strong preference for a darkened room.
Light is unbearable or causes marked distress alongside severe headache, fever, or neck stiffness.
7. Which description best matches breathing, skin color, and circulation?
Breathing and skin color appear normal for the person.
There are chills, mild paleness, or clammy skin without breathing difficulty.
Hands or feet are unusually cold, the skin looks mottled, or breathing is faster than usual.
There is breathing difficulty, blue or gray coloring, fainting, or signs of collapse.
8. What changes, if any, have appeared in movement, speech, or balance?
Movement, speech, and balance are unchanged.
There is generalized weakness or shakiness, but walking and speaking remain normal.
The person is newly unsteady or noticeably less coordinated.
There is new one-sided weakness, facial drooping, slurred speech, inability to stand, sudden vision change, or collapse.
9. What kind of recent contact has occurred with someone diagnosed with meningococcal disease or another infectious meningitis?
There is no known recent contact.
The person was in the same wider setting but had no known close contact.
There was close or prolonged contact, and professional guidance has not yet been obtained.
A clinician or public-health service has identified the person as a close contact or advised preventive treatment.
10. What has a healthcare professional said about the person's susceptibility to serious infection?
No particular susceptibility factor is known.
Vaccination records are incomplete or uncertain, but no specific increased susceptibility has been identified.
They have been advised that age, an outbreak, or a shared-living setting increases their chance of exposure.
They have a substantially weakened immune system, no functioning spleen, a complement disorder, or use a complement-inhibiting medicine.
11. How alert and responsive is the person compared with usual?
They are fully alert and responding normally.
They are tired but wake easily and communicate normally.
They are unusually drowsy, slowed, or having trouble concentrating.
They are confused, very difficult to wake, unresponsive, or not recognizing familiar people or surroundings.
12. If a new rash or spots are present, what happens when a clear glass is pressed firmly against them?
There is no new rash or unusual spotting.
The rash clearly fades under pressure and there are no other major warning signs.
It is difficult to tell whether the rash fades, or the skin cannot be assessed reliably.
Red, purple, or bruise-like spots do not fade under pressure, or the rash is spreading rapidly.
13. Which description best matches current behavior and communication?
Behavior and communication are typical for the person.
They are more irritable or withdrawn but can be comforted and communicate.
There is a marked, unusual behavior change or difficulty following conversation.
There is profound agitation, incoherent communication, an inconsolable or unusual high-pitched cry, or loss of normal interaction.
14. Has there been unusual shaking, staring, or loss of awareness?
No unusual episode has occurred.
There was brief twitching or shakiness while awareness remained normal.
There was an unexplained episode of staring, lost time, or jerking that might have been a seizure.
There was a definite, ongoing, or repeated seizure, or normal awareness did not return afterward.
15. Which description best matches the current fever or feverish feeling?
There is no measured fever and no unusual feverish feeling.
There are chills or a feverish feeling, but the temperature has not been measured.
A fever has been measured, without rapid deterioration.
The fever is very high, is accompanied by marked deterioration, or is at least 38°C (100.4°F) in a baby under 3 months.