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Differential diagnosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Meningitis requires distinction from other conditions which may present with headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness, which include:

  • subarachnoid haemorrhage
  • migraine

When an organism cannot be identified by staining or when the CSF contains a mixed picture of mononuclear cells and polymorphs, or mononuclear cells alone, then the following conditions can be considered:

  • partially treated meningitis
  • viral meningitis
  • tuberculous meningitis
  • neoplastic meningitis
  • syphilitic meningitis
  • fungal meningitis
  • intracranial abscess

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