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- 1). Evaluate your symptoms. Some unique symptoms are signs of meningitis. A stiff neck and sensitivity to light can be used to evaluate if you need to seek further medical treatment. Joint pain, fever and vomiting along with these symptoms are signs that further testing may be needed.
- 2). Receive a spinal tap. A spinal tap is required for meningitis since the bacteria or virus is located in the spinal fluid. A needle is placed in the lower part of the back into the bottom part of the spinal cord. The fluid is sent to a lab where cultures are created to test for the bacteria or viral infection.
- 3). Receive a blood test. Blood tests allow doctors to distinguish the infection as a bacterial or viral. Blood tests were recently approved in 2007, so doctors could quickly administer antibiotics for patients with bacterial infections.
- 4). Receive a CT scan. A computed tomography (CT) scan is a high resolution X-ray technology used to view the bones, muscle, fat and the organs. A CT scan can see swelling or abnormal organ behavior from infections.
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