Meningitis, both bacterial and viral, poses a threat globally, but often the true diagnostic of a lumbar puncture is not done as definitive test for diagnostics.
This editorial of The Lancet highlights the key symptoms for Meningitis and the need for early identification and the execution of a lumbar puncture to diagnose it accurately.
Early clinical identification of possible Meningitis symptoms is crucial to facilitate a quick diagnosis. A delay in lumbar puncture can further delay the identification of the specific type of Meningitis, and delay the appropriate treatment.
> From: The Lancet Neurology, Lancet Neurol 17 (2018) 877 . All rights reserved to The Lancet Neurology. Click here for the online summary.
Taking action rather sooner than later if a patient is under suspicion of Meningitis is critical. While this illness can present like other infections, it is important to be able to guide the patient towards the appropriate diagnositics as quick as possible.