What is Kernig's sign associated with?

Kernig's sign is a specific clinical test used to assess meningitis. It is elicited by having the patient flex one hip and knee to a 90-degree angle while keeping the other leg straight. If this action causes pain in the lower back or resistance to straightening the leg at the knee, it suggests irritation of the meninges. This neurological symptom is an indication of meningeal irritation, commonly seen in cases of meningitis or other conditions affecting the central nervous system.

In this context, the other options do not relate to Kernig's sign. Increased blood pressure can occur for various unrelated medical reasons, neck pain when flexing the neck downward is known as Brudzinski's sign, which is a different indicator of meningeal irritation, and enlarged lymph nodes are indicative of infection or inflammation but are not tied specifically to Kernig's sign.