Avoid Meningitis Mayhem: What You Need To Know

3. Diagnosis

A doctor or pediatrician will need to conduct some tests to properly diagnosis meningitis. This may include a physical examination in which a doctor checks for an infection of the throat, ears, head, and the skin along the spine. Certain diagnostic tests may also be required. These include blood cultures taken by drawing blood, imaging such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance (MR) scan. In some cases, a spinal tap may need to be done to collect cerebrospinal fluid.