Early Summer Meningoencephalitis: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin, mucous membranes, pharynx (throat), and sclera (white part of the eye) [inspection of skin looking for tick bites and skin lesions].
    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knocking pain?)
  • Neurological examination – including testing of meningismus (painful neck stiffness) and reflexes.

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathologic (pathological) physical findings.