In meningitis testing, what do positive Kernig and Brudzinski signs indicate?

• A. Indicate brain tumor
• B. Indicate meningeal irritation; supportive; require CSF analysis for diagnosis
• C. Definitive diagnosis of meningitis
• D. Indicate encephalitis

Answer: (B)

Irritation of the meninges is the key idea here. When the meninges are inflamed, the nerve roots respond strongly to movement. A positive Kernig sign happens when the hip is flexed and knee extension causes pain or resistance, and a positive Brudzinski sign is when bending the neck forward leads to automatic bending of the hips and knees. These signs strongly suggest meningeal irritation, which is common in meningitis, but they are not definitive by themselves. The next step to confirm meningitis is analyzing cerebrospinal fluid via lumbar puncture, looking for infectious organisms and characteristic changes in the cells, protein, and glucose. They do not by themselves diagnose brain tumor or encephalitis.