If you or someone you know may have meningitis, it is important to see a doctor immediately. To properly diagnose meningitis, a doctor will give you a series of meningitis tests, including a blood test, a spinal tap and possibly a CT scan. In this video, Dr. Preeti Parikh explains what else you can expect at the doctor as well as meningitis treatment options if you have the condition. The only way to receive a definitive answer about whether or not your symptoms are due to meningitis is through a spinal tap, or a lumbar puncture. In this procedure, fluid is examined based on the amount of red and white blood cells, protein and sugar. From this information, your doctor can typically tell you whether or not you have meningitis.
This video features Preeti Parikh, MD. Dr. Parikh, a board-certified pediatrician affiliated with The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, is HealthiNation's chief medical editor.
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