The nurse is caring for a 3-month-old girl with meningitis. She has a positive Kernig's sign. The nurse expects her to react to discomfort if she:

The correct answer is B. Flexes her spine. (A) Discomfort with ankle dorsiflexion is not expected with meningitis. (B) Spinal flexion, flexing the neck or the hips with legs extended, causes discomfort if the meninges are irritated. (C) Discomfort with wrist flexion is not expected with meningitis. (D) Rotating the…

Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation

Question

Options

ADorsiflexes her ankle
BFlexes her spine
CPlantiflexes her wrist
DTurns her head to the side

How the community answered

(39 responses)

A
8% (3)
B
90% (35)
D
3% (1)

Explanation

(A) Discomfort with ankle dorsiflexion is not expected with meningitis. (B) Spinal flexion, flexing the neck or the hips with legs extended, causes discomfort if the meninges are irritated. (C) Discomfort with wrist flexion is not expected with meningitis. (D) Rotating the cervical spine may cause discomfort with meningitis, but pain with flexion is more indicative of meningeal irritation.

Topics

#meningitis#Kernig's sign#meningeal irritation#neurological assessment

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