Infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; signs include recent ear or respiratory tract infection, high fever, vomiting, movement is painful.

• A. Croup
• B. Bronchiolitis
• C. Meningitis
• D. Epiglottitis

Answer: (C)

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The signs described—recent ear or respiratory tract infection, high fever, vomiting, and movement that is painful—fit meningitis because the infection can spread from nearby sites and irritate the meninges. Painful movement, especially with neck flexion, reflects meningeal irritation (nuchal rigidity) and is a classic clue in meningitis. Vomiting can occur with the illness due to increased intracranial pressure and systemic infection, while fever indicates an inflammatory response to infection.

Other conditions listed don’t match this combination of symptoms. Croup is an upper airway illness with a barking cough and stridor. Bronchiolitis mainly causes cough and breathing difficulties from a lower airway viral infection. Epiglottitis presents with severe throat pain, drooling, and difficulty swallowing, often with a different respiratory presentation and no prominent meningeal signs.