[Nuchal rigidity in children: meningitis or not?].

Three children, two girls aged 4 and 2.5 years and one boy aged 8 years, presented with nuchal rigidity and symptoms such as fever, headache and nausea. Upon investigation they had: torticollis on the bases of an upper respiratory tract infection, viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis (meningococcus type C) respectively. They all recovered well after treatment. Nuchal rigidity can be caused by many illnesses other than bacterial meningitis. Lumbar puncture should be performed when meningeal irritation is suspected. In children this can be identified using the Vincent test as well as the Kernig and Brudzinski tests.