Subarachnoid haemorrhage [top]

• Acute headache, very sudden onset 'like being kicked in the back of the head'

• May be drowsy / unconscious loss of consciousness, vomiting

• Signs of meningism:neck stiffness, photophobia

• Acute neurological deficit

Meningitis [top]

• Acute headache

• Photophobia, neck stiffness, meningism, Kernig's sign positive

• Fever, vomiting, seizure

• Non-blanching purpuric rash with bacterial meningitis