Could this be menegitis? i was diagnosed with an ear infection and an upper respiratory infection yesterday at the emergency room. now my neck is feeling stiff, what could be the cause of this?

Hello, : Hello, does your neck hurt more when you try to flex your chin down toward your chest? Severe headache? Fever? In a small number of cases otitis media (ear infection) has spread to cause meningitis. The classic triad of symptoms: stiff neck, severe headache and a change in mental status is often not seen. Other symptoms with meningitis can include: vomiting, nausea, difficulty concentrating, sleepiness &, sensitivity to light. I don't know if you have meningitis. If the description above sounds like you, please be seen urgently. Take care.

It : It looks like you have a simple viral illness. However, your neck stiffness needs to be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Indeed, the presence of headache, high fevers, and vomiting would imply something ominous. In that case, your best bet is a trip to the emergency department.

Certainly, : Certainly, there is the possibility that your symptoms can be related to meningitis whci can occasionally be from an ear infection but this less likely. The neck discomfort may be related to your infection (especially if you have any mild swelling in glands in your neck). That said, i would be more concerned for meningitis if you had a fever and a bad headache. If the neck pain is persistent, then i would get rechecked, but isolated neck stiffness without any of the other symptoms would not suggest meningitis by itself unless the stiffness was so pronounced that you had much difficulty in moving it. Good luck.