Meningismus
Type: Symptom
Definition
A set of symptoms involving a stiff neck and headache resembling meningitis.
Clinical Details
As the virus breaches the blood-brain barrier, it causes acute inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This severe irritation makes it highly painful to flex the neck forward or move the spine. It serves as a stark clinical warning that the virus is actively attacking the central nervous system.