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What Causes Pain In Back Radiating To Neck With Severe Headache?

Posted on Tue, 3 Mar 2015

Question: My 18 yr old granddaughter is a college freshman. We're concerned because this weekend she started with pain in her back, then to her neck, and then full blown headache with nausea, photosensitivity. Today she says the back pain has stopped, but still has neck pain along with headache and photosensitivity and nausea. We're inclined to think this is a migraine, especially since her birth control pills were switched to a different kind in December; however, the neck pain is puzzling us and we're reading symptoms of meningitis. Should we have her checked for meningitis?

Answered by Dr. Moumita Chakraborty,MD (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Could be Meningitis

Detailed Answer:
Hello there!

Welcome to HealthcareMagic.

I understand your concern for your grand daughter.Her symptoms sounds like meningitis.This is inflammation of meninges due to any infection mostly due to virus.

This is an emergency because it has an insidious onset.I would strongly suggest you to seek emergency medical care and get her intravenous medication so that the infection does not spread anymore.

She needs to go through a complete blood count,CAT brain and a spinal tap for a confirmed diagnosis.So without further delay,get her admitted in hospital.

Hope this helps.Feel free to ask more.
Dr.Moumita Chakraborty

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj