What is the most common symptom of meningitis among teens and young adults?

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Multiple Choice

What is the most common symptom of meningitis among teens and young adults?

Fever is the most common presenting symptom of meningitis in teens and young adults. While stiff neck is a classic and important clue, it occurs less frequently as the initial symptom than fever. Patients often first notice fever and headache, with sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sometimes nausea or vomiting. So, fever best explains the majority of presenting cases in this age group, with neck stiffness remaining a key but less consistently present sign when the illness begins.

Fever is the most common presenting symptom of meningitis in teens and young adults. While stiff neck is a classic and important clue, it occurs less frequently as the initial symptom than fever. Patients often first notice fever and headache, with sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sometimes nausea or vomiting. So, fever best explains the majority of presenting cases in this age group, with neck stiffness remaining a key but less consistently present sign when the illness begins.

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