Which combination best describes signs of meningitis and the required isolation precaution?

• A. Fever and neck stiffness; airborne precautions
• B. Fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, photophobia; droplet precautions
• C. Fever only; contact precautions
• D. Severe headache with no fever; standard precautions

Answer: (B)

Meningitis often presents with fever, a severe headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia (sensitivity to light) due to irritation of the meninges. Because this condition is commonly transmitted through respiratory droplets, the appropriate isolation is droplet precautions, not airborne or contact. The combination that best fits both the clinical signs and the required precaution is fever with severe headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia accompanied by droplet precautions. The other options fall short because they omit one or more typical signs, or they assign the wrong type of precautions for how meningitis spreads (airborne or contact rather than droplet).