Meningitis is inflammation or infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms often include fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion, and sometimes a rash that does not fade when pressed.
Imaging helps when doctors need to look for complications, check for swelling or pressure effects, or decide whether it is safe to do further procedures such as lumbar puncture.
Imaging does not diagnose meningitis by itself, but CT or MRI may be used to look for complications before or after lumbar puncture.
Management can be urgent and may include antibiotics, antivirals, supportive care, and specialist neurological input.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
