For suspected meningitis in a child with fever and neck stiffness, what is the recommended course of action?

• A. Oral antibiotics at home
• B. Hospitalize immediately with IV antibiotics
• C. Vaccinate now
• D. Order outpatient labs

Answer: (B)

Suspected meningitis in a child is a medical emergency. The priority is to start broad-spectrum IV antibiotics and secure hospital care right away so the child can be closely monitored, receive rapid diagnostic workup, and have timely treatment that penetrates the central nervous system. Giving oral antibiotics at home would not deliver adequate CSF levels quickly enough and could delay critical care, increasing the risk of serious complications. Vaccination is important for prevention but doesn’t address a current infection. Outpatient labs would delay therapy and safe management. In practice, the goal is immediate empiric IV antibiotics in a monitored setting, with ongoing assessment and the usual diagnostic steps (cultures, lumbar puncture when safe).