How is Meningitis Detected?

How Doctors Detect Meningitis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), meningitis mortality rate revolves around 10-15% with treatment, 50% without treatment and 10-20% of survivors have permanent disabilities. Meningitis is known as inflammation of meninges, which is the layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which diagnostic tests can detect. Such tests may include imaging studies, blood tests, cultures, and a physical examination.

Read further to understand the diagnostic tests that help detect meningitis.

What are the Diagnostic Procedures to Detect Meningitis?

Meningitis can be diagnosed and detected through several procedures, such as:

Symptom Analysis

Doctors will look for symptoms of meningitis, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness in the neck, nausea, light sensitivity, and changes in mental status. Infant symptoms include irritability, poor feeding, and a bulging skull.

Physical Examination

Testing for meningitis starts with a physical exam, in which the doctor measures the probability of meningitis. The doctor will ask about any present illnesses, all symptoms, and when the symptoms started. A few of such tests involve:

Brudzinski’s Sign

A doctor performs this test by flexing the patient's neck toward the chest when the patient is on their back. A person may have meningitis if flexing their knees or hips is difficult.

Kernig’s Sign

This test involves lying down, and the doctor bends the knee toward the chest and tries to straighten the leg upward. If doing this hurts the patient or cannot be performed at all, the patient might have inflammation in the meninges, which is predicted to be meningitis.

Blood Tests and Culture

Some blood test results, like those for meningitis, show an extremely high white blood cell count, which can be used to diagnose a severe infection. A few of those tests include:

Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)

It is the gold standard for meningitis diagnosis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is extracted and analyzed for:

White blood cell count (Elevated in bacterial/viral meningitis)
Glucose levels (Low in bacterial meningitis)
Protein levels (High in bacterial meningitis)
Gram stain & culture (Identifies bacterial cause)
PCR tests (Detect viral DNA/RNA)

Blood Tests

The following blood tests diagnose meningitis:

Complete blood count (CBC): High WBC indicates infection.
Blood cultures: Detect bacteria in the bloodstream.
CRP & pocalcitonin: Markers of bacterial infection.

Imaging Tests

Before a lumbar puncture, CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans are performed if:

There’s a risk of brain herniation
Focal neurological deficits are present
The patient has seizures or is immunocompromised.

Rapid Antigen Test

Rapid antigen tests (e.g., latex agglutination) can detect bacterial pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis); however, they are less sensitive than cultures.

Does Health Insurance Cover Meningitis?

Most health insurance plans cover diseases such as meningitis, including hospital charges. However, the entire plan should always be verified for terms and conditions to ensure complete coverage.

At Star Health, we also offer coverage for meningitis under most of our insurance policies. We provide hassle-free claim settlements with reduced turnaround time across over 14,000 network hospitals in India.

Early detection can save lives. Since meningitis can be fatal if left untreated, it is necessary to consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan.