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Rhonda Cadena explains the process of diagnosing and managing meningitis. It is a skill that involves rapid identification, workup, and treatment. In most cases, the diagnosis of meningitis is not a diagnostic dilemma, but the workup and treatment are not as straightforward. Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. This can be caused by bacteria, autoimmune process, drug reactions, viruses, and fungi. Rhonda delves deeper into bacterial meningitis. Worldwide there are over 1 million cases per year of bacterial meningitis. This equates to 135 000 deaths. Of the survivors, half will be left with neurological deficits. So, the swift identification and treatment of this disease process is crucial. Symptoms include fever, headache, nuchal rigidity and altered mental status with almost all patients having at least two. A lumbar puncture is absolutely necessary. Only insist on a CT first if you suspect a mass lesion or increased intracranial pressure. Otherwise, the delay in antibiotics