Upon the positive Kernig and Brudzinski sign, the nurse should interpret meningeal irritation.
Kernig sign indicates the stiffness of hamstrings with pain on knee extension. And Brudzinski sign is indicated when passive forward flexion of the neck causes the patient to involuntarily raise his knees or hips in flexion.
Meningeal irritation is caused due to the infectious meningitis. Meninges are the three layers of tissues protecting the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms include headache, stiffness of neck and fever. nausea and vomiting can also happen. It can be diagnosed by lumbar test and neuroimaging.
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