If your doctor thinks that you have meningitis, he or she will refer you to hospital immediately. You're likely to have a lumbar puncture. A lumbar puncture is a test in which a sample of fluid is taken from your lower back. A computerised tomography (CT) scan, which uses X-rays to make a 3-dimensional image of part of your body may be done to check for swelling or damage to your brain tissue. Other tests may include a blood test to check for septicaemia, throat and nose swabs, a chest X-ray and a faeces sample to check for viruses.
Attribution: BUPA