Why Diagnosis Is Important
Some illnesses can heal on their own---but that's not the case with meningitis. This infection, which can be caused by a bacteria, virus, fungus or other factors like cancer or an allergic reaction to medications, can be fatal without the proper diagnosis and treatment. Bacterial and fungal meningitis in particular need to be diagnosed and treated, so symptoms like a stiff neck and headache with fever should be evaluated by a doctor immediately.
Cultures
If you've got a fever and neck pain, your doctor may order a throat culture, says the Mayo Clinic. A throat culture can't diagnose meningitis, but it can rule out other potential causes of your symptoms. If the throat culture is negative, further testing is needed to diagnose meningitis.
A blood culture will also be taken to look for signs of bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms in the blood.
Imaging Tests
To spot inflammation and swelling in the sinuses, around the brain or in the chest, the Mayo Clinic says that imaging tests may be needed. This can include computerized tomography (CT) scans or even simple X-rays of the head and chest to help spot a potential infection.
Examination of Cerebrospinal Fluid
Meningitis can cause the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and the brain to become irritated and inflamed. To check for signs of infection and inflammation, a spinal tap is generally performed to confirm a meningitis diagnosis. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid is withdrawn using a needle injected in the back, then it's analyzed in a laboratory to look for the bacteria or virus that's responsible for the symptoms.
