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Suggest Remedy For Headache, Cold And Eye Irritation In An Elderly Person
Question: Have a stiff neck, eyes are really irritated, with a slight headache , cold all the time but no fever. No cough but body aches . No energy. This is going around a week or so. Want to just crawl in warm bed. I'm a 67 yr. old male. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Meningitis should be ruled out
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Stiff neck, eyes irritated or photophobia and headache are signs and symptoms that should trigger suspicion for meningitis. Though there is fever and nausea/vomiting also associated with the above as per clinical presentation. A neurological exam should be required to determine if indeed there is neck stiffness and also by eliciting signs such as kernigs or brudzinski . Your doctor will know more about these signs which signify meningitis. If suspicion is present then lumbar puncture must be done for CSF analysis via cell count and culture. If there is papilledema , altered mental state or other contraindication to LP then a CT scan should be done prior to the LP. Tension or migraine headache and sinusitis can also be possibilities and need to be looked for on the general assessment. NSAIDs/triptans or antibiotics can be advised based on the cause. You should go to a hospital/ER near you to get assessed for the above causes.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Let me know if you have any query
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Meningitis should be ruled out
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
Stiff neck, eyes irritated or photophobia and headache are signs and symptoms that should trigger suspicion for meningitis. Though there is fever and nausea/vomiting also associated with the above as per clinical presentation. A neurological exam should be required to determine if indeed there is neck stiffness and also by eliciting signs such as kernigs or brudzinski . Your doctor will know more about these signs which signify meningitis. If suspicion is present then lumbar puncture must be done for CSF analysis via cell count and culture. If there is papilledema , altered mental state or other contraindication to LP then a CT scan should be done prior to the LP. Tension or migraine headache and sinusitis can also be possibilities and need to be looked for on the general assessment. NSAIDs/triptans or antibiotics can be advised based on the cause. You should go to a hospital/ER near you to get assessed for the above causes.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Let me know if you have any query
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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