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A member asked:

Why neck stiffness cannot be illicited in infants to diagnose meningitis?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Tony Ho answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Immune system: Infants, especially neonates, still have developing immune systems; the neck stiffness is a manifestation of inflammation, which requires an intact robust immune response. Due to this, many of the classic adult signs of infection are often muted or absent in infant infections.

Answered 1/12/2013

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