A child with meningitis is most likely to exhibit what form of neck symptom?

In cases of meningitis, one of the hallmark signs is neck stiffness, which is a result of irritation and inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation can lead to increased muscle tone, making it difficult for the child to flex their neck without experiencing pain. This phenomenon is often assessed through the Brudzinski or Kernig signs during a physical examination.

Flexibility is typically not associated with meningitis, as the condition usually causes the opposite effect where movement is limited due to the stiffness of the neck. Weakness may occur in some cases, but it is not a defining symptom of meningitis like neck stiffness is. Painless range of motion would be unexpected in a child with meningitis since the condition generally causes discomfort or pain when attempting to move the neck.

So, the presence of neck stiffness is a key clinical feature of meningitis, affirming its importance in the diagnosis and assessment of this serious condition.