Nuchal rigidity
Type: Symptom
Definition
An extreme stiffness of the neck that resists passive forward bending.
Clinical Details
The massive bacterial proliferation causes the meninges, the brain's protective casing, to become violently inflamed and highly sensitive to mechanical stretching. When the patient attempts to tuck their chin to their chest, it physically pulls on these inflamed tissues, triggering excruciating pain. The body reflexively locks the neck muscles in a rigid spasm to prevent this agonizing movement.