Here is a simple neck test which people with suspected meningitis can perform, after an outbreak of cases are linked back to a student club night in Kent.
Earlier this month a cluster of meningitis and septicaemia cases at the University of Kent left two students dead and a further 11 hospitalised. The two students who died from the bacterial infection have since been identified as a 21-year-old University of Kent student and 18-year-old Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School pupil Juliette Kenny.
The initial outbreak was later traced back to an event at Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury, with the current number of cases - understood to have been caused by meningitis B - is now estimated to be 34, according to UKHSA.
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As students rush to get vaccinated against meningitis B, which isn't covered by the MenACWY vaccine routinely given to teenagers, there has been a greater push for awareness around meningitis – including the causes, key symptoms and warning signs.
Both bacterial and viral meningitis present with similar symptoms, these include:
- a fever
- nausea and vomiting
- a headache
- stiffness in the neck
- sensitivity to light
- a rash which does not fade when a glass is rolled over it.
What is the meningitis neck test?
According to Healthline, a physical examination of a patient with suspected meningitis includes the a test known as the Brudzinski’s sign.
The Brudzinski’s sign is a manoeuvre which involves pulling a patient's neck forward slowly. While a healthy patient or someone without meningitis would be able to touch their chin to chest, a patient with meningitis would struggle due to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
In some cases, patients will also experience involuntary bending in the hips and knees when this test is performed.
The Brudzinski’s sign can be performed at home on a person who is unwell as a preliminary check but shouldn't be substituted for a professional medical examination. The NHS states that anyone exhibiting meningitis symptoms should always seek immediate medical attention.
What are the other at home tests can you perform for suspected meningitis?
Another well known check for meningitis is the glass test.
A rash which doesn't fade when a clear glass is pressed against it is known as a 'non-blanching' rash, caused by meningitis and other severe infections such as septicemia.
To perform this test, press the side of a glass firmly onto a rash, if the rash doesn't fade then it is important to seek medical attention immediately. However Meningitis Now warns that is a person is exhibiting signs of meningitis you should not wait for a rash to appear before seeking medical treatment.
Brenna Cooper