2 Neck Pain Symptoms That Require Immediate Medical Attention

Neck pain is not typically a cause for panic, as you can treat many symptoms with simple measures such as rest, stretching, ice/heat therapy, over-the-counter medications, and ergonomics. However, there are some instances of neck pain when you should seek medical attention immediately. Here are two:

See All About Neck Pain

1. Stiff neck with a severe headache or fever

Having a stiff neck and flu-like symptoms could be a sign of meningitis, a serious condition that occurs when the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord become infected and inflamed.

If your neck is stiff, and you also have a fever and/or an especially painful headache, you could have meningitis.

See When Neck Stiffness May Mean Meningitis

Meningitis, in its most dangerous form, is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Early warning signs of meningitis may include a fever (high body temperature, chills, body aches), an intense headache, and an inability to flex the neck forward. A stiff neck doesn’t always occur when meningitis is present, so look for other possible symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to sound or light.

See How Meningitis Causes Neck Pain and Stiffness

Meningitis symptoms usually develop within a few days of exposure. Getting meningitis treated early is critical; delaying treatment poses a severe risk for hearing loss, brain damage, and even death.

Experiencing a stiff neck, fever, and bad headache all at once doesn’t always signal meningitis, but if you display these symptoms, it is recommended you visit a doctor right away.

See When Is a Stiff Neck Serious?

advertisement

2. Neck pain with persistent arm/hand numbness or weakness

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the cervical spine is compressed, inflamed, or damaged. Symptoms of cervical radiculopathy include tingling, numbness, and/or weakness in the areas served by the affected nerve root.

Do you have neck pain that radiates to your shoulder, arm, or finger with a pins-and-needles, weakening, or numbing sensation? These symptoms may suggest cervical radiculopathy.

See What Is Cervical Radiculopathy?

Cervical radiculopathy means that a nerve root in your cervical spine is compressed, inflamed, or damaged. The issue most often occurs because of a nearby bone spur or herniated disc that is caused by degenerative changes in your neck. Less commonly, cervical radiculopathy indicates an infection or tumor.

See Cervical Radiculopathy Causes and Risk Factors

Cervical radiculopathy pain typically is felt in just one side of the body. The pain may also take on a burning or shock-like quality, and your grip may feel weaker. Your reflexes may also be affected.

See Cervical Radiculopathy Symptoms

If you show cervical radiculopathy symptoms, see your doctor. He or she may perform a physical examination, review your medical history, and possibly conduct imaging studies or other advanced diagnostic tests.

See Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy

These two examples don’t form a comprehensive list, as other neck pain symptoms may require immediate medical attention. You should also seek urgent care if your neck pain is accompanied by problems with coordination or bowel/bladder control.

See Neck Pain Symptoms

When in doubt, call your doctor to see if troubling signs or symptoms need to be checked. Getting an accurate diagnosis early may lead to more effective treatments and better outcomes.

See Diagnosing Neck Pain

Learn more:

Stiff Neck Symptoms and Causes Animation

Dr. Benjamin Bjerke is an orthopedic surgeon. He specializes in minimally invasive and motion-preserving spine surgery.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Twitter
• Subscribe to our newsletter

• Email this article

advertisement

Editor’s Top Picks

• Neck Cracking and Grinding: What Does It Mean?

• Neck Strain: Causes and Remedies

• Treatment for a Stiff Neck

• Neck Exercises for Neck Pain

• Physical Therapy for Neck Pain Relief

• Cervical Radiculopathy Interactive Video

Symptoms of Meningitis | Meningitis Research Foundation

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – the meninges.

What is septicaemia?

Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by the same germs as meningitis and is life-threatening. It can occur with or without meningitis and is sometimes referred to as sepsis. Medically, septicaemia is when bacteria enters the bloodstream, causing blood poisoning which triggers sepsis. Sepsis is an overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.

Both meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours, so it is critical to know the symptoms so you can act fast.

Fever and / or vomiting

Meningitis

Septicaemia

Severe headache

Meningitis

Limb / joint / muscle pain (sometimes with stomach pain/diarrhoea)

Septicaemia

Cold hands and feet / shivering

Septicaemia

Pale or mottled skin

Septicaemia

Breathing fast / breathless

Septicaemia

Rash (anywhere on the body)

Meningitis

Septicaemia

Stiff neck (less common in young children)

Meningitis

Dislike of bright lights (less common in young children)

Meningitis

Very sleepy / vacant / difficult to wake

Meningitis

Septicaemia

Confused / delirious

Meningitis

Septicaemia

Seizures (fits)

Meningitis

If I think someone has meningitis symptoms, when do I go to hospital?

Someone who has meningitis or septicaemia can become seriously ill very quickly, so always trust your instincts and get medical help fast by speaking to a health professional.

The first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell. Limb pain, pale skin, and cold hands and feet often appear earlier than the rash, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights and confusion.

It is important to understand that not everyone gets all the meningitis and septicaemia symptoms: they can appear in any order.

What to do if you think your baby or child is unwell with meningitis or septicaemia

Parents or carers are often unsure when to call for medical help when they suspect meningitis or septicaemia (the blood poisoning form of meningitis, often called sepsis).

That is why we have worked with health professionals to create this red and amber symptoms checker, to tell you what actions to take. Often called our safety-netting resources, these will guide you on what are high or medium risk symptoms, and what to do.

Red symptoms: high risk | take immediate action

If your child is unwell with any of these symptoms, go to a hospital or call for an ambulance immediately.

Temperature

• Over 38°C in babies under three months
• Has a temperature and feels abnormally cold to touch / very cold hands and feet

Breathing

• Very fast breathing, finding it much harder to breathe than normal, or noticeable pauses in breathing
• Grunting and / or noises with every breath

Body and activity

• Very lethargic / difficult to wake / not responding
• Fitting / convulsion / seizures
• Weak, high pitched or continuous crying in a younger child
• Confusion or unusually irritable
• Soft spot on a baby’s head is bulging
• Stiff neck, especially when trying to look up and down
• Unusually sleepy, stiff or floppy baby

Skin, lips and tongue

• Blue skin, lips or tongue
• Very pale or mottled skin
• A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass

Eating, drinking, and toilet habits

• Not had a wee or wet nappy for 12 hours or more
• Very thirsty and not able to keep fluids down
• Bloody or black ‘coffee ground’ sick

And if your baby is under eight weeks old:

Young infants are particularly vulnerable to serious infection. Seek urgent medical help if your baby has a combination of any of the following symptoms, with or without a fever:

• Persistent refusal to feed
• Lethargic / excessively sleepy
• Irritable
• Stiff or floppy body
• Weak / high pitched or continuous cry
• Grunting
• Soft spot on the baby’s head is bulging

Some of these red, high-risk symptoms are not typical signs of meningitis or septicaemia (sepsis) but are still signs of severe illness, so, if your child is unwell and has any of the red symptoms, get urgent medical help.

Remember, always trust your instincts: parents, guardians or carers often know when their child is seriously ill. If your child is ill and getting worse, don’t be afraid to seek medical help immediately, even if you have already seen a doctor.

Amber symptoms: medium risk | get professional medical advice

If you are worried about a child who has any of these amber symptoms call your local medical professional support (in the UK, NHS 111 or your doctor) without delay.

Temperature

• Over 39°C in babies aged three to six months
• High temperature in a child who shows no interest in anything, or high temperature for more than five days
• Low temperature (below 36°C, checking three times in a ten minute period)

Breathing

• Fast breathing
• Cough that sounds like a seal barking
• Noisy or crackly breathing
• Nostrils are flaring
• In an older child, they can’t say more than a few words

Body and activity

• Unusually sleepy
• Child can’t be encouraged to show interest in anything / not wanting to do very much
• Not responding normally to family or carers
• Child under five not smiling
• Shivering or shaking
• Severe headache
• Dislike of bright lights
• Limb / joint / muscle pain
• Not using / putting weight on an arm, leg, hand or foot
• Swelling of a limb or joint

Skin, lips and tongue

• Pale skin, lips or tongue in a child under five
• Sunken eyes
• Rash that does fade when pressed with a clear glass

Eating, drinking and toilet habits

• Not feeding or eating much
• Not drinking for more than eight hours (when awake)
• Dry mouth
• Under one year old with vomiting and / or diarrhoea
• Vomiting more than twice in the last 24 hours or has bile-stained vomit
• More than five watery poos in a 24 hour period
• Only one wet nappy or wee in the last 12 hours

You may have already seen a health professional about your child, but it is important to get more medical advice if:

• You feel that your child is worse than when you previously spoke to a health professional.

• You are more worried about your child than when you previously spoke to a health professional.

• You are concerned that you are unable to look after your child.

What is the meningitis rash?

If you are seriously worried about someone who is ill, don’t wait for a rash to appear – get medical help. But if they are already ill and have a rash, or one appears, use the tumbler test.

The tumbler test

Press a clear glass tumbler firmly against the rash. If you can see the marks clearly through the glass get urgent medical help immediately.

Check the entire body. Look out for tiny red or brown pin-prick marks which can change into larger red or purple blotches and blood blisters.

The darker the skin the harder it is to see a septicaemic rash, so check lighter areas like the palms of hands and soles of feet or look inside the eyelids and the roof of the mouth.

Remember, a very ill person needs medical help even if there are only a few spots, a rash or no rash at all. More on what is the meningitis rash.

Other symptoms

When deciding whether a child is well enough to go home or needs to be in hospital, a health professional needs to take measurements such as heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen level and alertness.

National UK guidelines outline what doctors should measure in children with fever or suspected infection and when they should refer children to hospital. You can read these guidelines here:

• Fever in under fives: assessment and initial management
• Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and management
• Sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management

More support

If you have questions or concerns about meningitis or septicaemia you can ring our Support Services on 080 8800 3344 in the UK or 1800 41 33 44 in the Republic of Ireland. But don’t wait to speak to us if you think you or someone you care about is seriously ill – always get professional medical support.

Further resources

Download our meningitis and septicaemia symptoms infographic: A4 version | A5 version

Read what vaccines are available to prevent meningitis

Our safety netting campaign and report (2018)

Meningitis symptoms in babies

Meningitis symptoms in toddlers

Meningitis symptoms in teenagers and young adults

Fever – GBUZ City Children’s Clinical Hospital No. 1

Fever and its features in children.

Increase
temperature is the most common symptom of the disease in children, each child has at least 1 time per year
fever is noted. Temperature rise is also very common
forces the use of medicines, all feverish children receive antipyretic
means. This is facilitated by both the idea of ​​many parents about the dangers of high temperature,
and the desire of the doctor to alleviate the discomfort associated with febrile
reaction or at least make
appointment, the effect of which will be obvious.

Wrestling
with fever is an important element of treatment, but not an end in itself, since lowering the temperature
in most cases does not affect the course of the disease. That’s why
the desire to reduce the temperature by all means and keep it at
normal level indicates
only about a weak acquaintance with the causes and significance of fever.

Fever-
an increase in body temperature that accompanies
most infectious and some non-infectious (injuries,
inflammatory, autoimmune and oncological) diseases.

Normal
the child’s body temperature fluctuates during the day from 360C to 370C.

Fever
– a defensive reaction directed against the causative agent of infection. At
t 38.50C
and above, the synthesis of interferons is enhanced,
protein synthesis, leukocytosis is stimulated. All these factors reduce the ability to
reproduction of many microorganisms. Fever suppression reduces intensity
immune response. Fever is dangerous at temperatures closer to 410
C – mainly in children from risk groups. With a high fever, metabolism increases sharply, oxygen consumption
and the release of carbon dioxide, fluid losses increase, there is
extra stress on the heart and lungs. Initially healthy child
tolerates these changes easily, although experiencing discomfort, but in children with
pathology (often the central nervous system and congenital heart defects) can
worsen the condition significantly.

Distinguish between “pink” and “white” (pale) fevers.
“Pink” fever signals the correspondence of heat production to heat transfer,
with it, the skin is pink, hot, moist to the touch, the child behaves normally. With “white”
fever, the skin is cyanotic or marbled, often appearing “goose bumps”
skin”, acrocyanosis, cold extremities.

FEVERS

Adverse
phenomena caused directly by fever are extremely rare.
The danger may be a disease that caused a fever that plays
protective role. The main danger of fever is dehydration, which is easily
prevented or corrected by the introduction of an additional amount
liquids. Violation of microcirculation, the signs of which are a marble pattern
skin, “goosebumps”, cold extremities, observed with “white” fever and
require restoration of microcirculation. Fever is not harmful
actions on the CNS.

K
dangers of fever include the possibility of developing febrile seizures, which
observed in 2-4% of those predisposed to
children, more often at the age of 12-18 months and do not have an unfavorable
influence on the central nervous system and its development.

In general, the hazards associated with
fever, are largely exaggerated, with most infections the maximum
temperature is set within 39.5-40.00 C, which does not threaten
persistent health problems.

0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;text-indent:35.4pt”> Fever
in a child always indicates a disease, but its severity, as
usually does not correlate with its severity. Many common viral
(eg, rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia) and bacterial (otitis media,
urinary tract infection, impetigo) infections in immunocompetent individuals do not
have a severe course, against the background of antibiotic therapy or symptomatic
treatment, recovery is fast. Other infections (sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia,
purulent infections of bones and joints, pyelonephritis) without treatment often lead to
complications and sometimes even death. Most febrile
diseases in children is associated with viral infections and those bacterial,
which only briefly violate the health and do not pose a threat to the life of the child.

.Fever
in a child under the age of 3 months of life requires close monitoring due to
high risk of developing a serious bacterial infection.

“White (pale)” fever requires
restoration of microcirculation.

Fever
without catarrhal phenomena, rash and other visible local symptoms of infection
common with urinary tract infection, in children 0-3 years of age may indicate the development
bacteremia.

Preservation
febrile fever (more than 38.5 C) for more than 3 days, especially with rapid breathing
(including in the absence of catarrhal phenomena) may indicate
development of pneumonia.

Hemorrhagic
a rash (not blanching on pressure) with fever may indicate meningococcemia – in this case, emergency therapy is required.

Rigidity
occipital muscles or their soreness, bulging of the fontanel on the background of fever
indicates a CNS infection (meningitis).

Fever associated with abdominal pain and vomiting
requires exclusion of appendicitis.

Fever
with joint pain may be associated with bacterial arthritis, osteomyelitis.

Resistant
fever with rash, changes in the oral mucosa, scleritis,
an increase in lymph nodes requires the exclusion of Kawasaki disease.

0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;text-indent:35.4pt”> Continuous
(more than 2 weeks) fever requires examination to detect long-term
ongoing infections, connective tissue diseases, immunodeficiency,
oncological pathology.

TREATMENT
FEVER

Fever
is not an absolute indication for temperature reduction.

In cases where the reduction
temperature is necessary, there is no need to strive to bring it to normal – enough
decrease by 1-1.50С.

0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph”> Readings
to decrease in temperature:

In previously healthy children older than
3 months:

– at body temperature above 39.00C -39.50C; and / or

– in the presence of a muscular or head
pain;

– in shock.

In children under 3 months of age:

– at body temperature above 380C.

In children with diseases of the heart, lungs,
CNS:

– at body temperature above 38.50C.

Uncontrolled
the use of antipyretics, especially “course”, creates the illusion
well-being and causes a belated appointment of etiotropic drugs.

Selection
antipyretics should be founded,
first of all, on their safety, and not on the strength of the effect. Ideally, an antipyretic drug for children should have
the ability to quickly and effectively reduce the temperature by at least 10C,
available in liquid form and as suppositories, rarely cause side effects
effects at therapeutic doses and have as wide a gap as possible between
therapeutic and toxic dose.

This
only two drugs, paracetamol and ibuprofen, currently meet this parameter.

B
pediatric practice prohibited the use of acetylsalicylic acid and nimesulide.

REFERENCE
FOR PARENTS

*temperature – protective reaction; her
should be reduced only according to the indications given above;

*adequate fluid administration
a feverish child is more important than a decrease in his temperature;

*not important in antipyretics
“strength”, but safety, to improve the patient’s condition, it is enough to reduce
temperature by 1-1. 50C;

* Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most
safe drugs, it is important to adhere to the recommended one-time and daily
their dosages;

*do not prescribe antipyretic “course”
to prevent a rise in temperature, because you can see the progress
bacterial infection;

*do not use for the same reason
antipyretic drugs for longer than 3 days without consulting a doctor;

*with the development of “pale” fever with
spasm of the skin vessels, the introduction of an antipyretic agent should be combined with
vigorously rubbing the baby’s skin
until redness and immediately call a doctor.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib infection)

In this article, we will talk about Haemophilus influenzae, a disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae.

Depending on the type of Haemophilus influenzae, there are several variants of the course of Haemophilus influenzae infection – from mild to extremely severe, life-threatening.

Severe forms are caused by the bacterium H. influenzae type b (Hib). These include pneumonia, purulent meningitis, sepsis, otitis media, meningitis, arthritis, epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis).

Thanks to vaccination in the Russian Federation, the incidence of Hib infection is recorded at a sporadic level.

Pathogen Hib – infections, Haemophilus influenzae type b, may be a representative of the normal microflora of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.

Carriers can be from 5 to 80% of the population, depending on the epidemic conditions.

The level of carriage of bacteria H. influenzae type b among children is approximately 1 – 10%, in conditions of crowding in children’s groups – up to 40%.

The source of infection is a person who has fallen ill with any form of Hib – infections or a bacteriocarrier.

Hemophilus influenzae is transmitted by airborne droplets during sneezing, coughing.

A patient with Haemophilus influenzae becomes most contagious from the onset of symptoms and continues to shed the pathogen for about 10 days.

Clinical manifestations of the disease depend on the localization of the pathogen. If the pathogen does not enter the bloodstream, the clinical picture of acute respiratory infections develops – nasal congestion, sore throat, conjunctivitis, etc. Getting into the bloodstream, cerebrospinal fluid, Haemophilus influenzae causes the development of pneumonia, septicemia, epiglottitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, myocarditis, meningitis and others

Symptoms of meningitis (about 95% of cases are children from 1 month to 5 years): sudden onset, fever, headache, photophobia, neck stiffness (may not be present in young children), nausea, vomiting.

Symptoms of pneumonia: fever, chills, headache, weakness, profuse sweating, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain.

Vaccination avoids more than 90% of cases of infection with Hib infection.

In Russia, vaccination is carried out in accordance with the national calendar of preventive vaccinations. In accordance with it, vaccinations against hemophilic infection are given to children at risk (with diseases of the nervous system, immunodeficiency states or anatomical defects, leading to a sharply increased risk of hemophilic infection; with anomalies in the development of the intestine; with oncological diseases and / or long-term receiving immunosuppressive therapy; children born to mothers with HIV infection; children with HIV infection; preterm and low birth weight infants; children in infant homes).

In Russia, vaccination is carried out in accordance with the National Immunization Schedule: the first vaccination is carried out at the age of 3 months, the second – at 4.