Which symptom related to light is commonly seen in meningitis?

• A. Abdominal pain
• B. Hearing loss
• C. Photophobia
• D. Nausea only

Answer: (C)

Photophobia is the symptom related to light in meningitis. Inflammation of the meninges irritates the coverings around the brain, which can heighten the brain’s sensitivity to light. This makes bright light uncomfortable or painful, so patients often seek a dark room, squint, or shield their eyes. Photophobia is a classic, more specific sign of meningitis compared with symptoms like abdominal pain or nausea, which are not directly tied to light sensitivity. Hearing loss isn’t a typical early feature of meningitis related to light exposure, and while nausea can accompany the illness, it doesn’t explain the light intolerance. Thus, photophobia stands out as the light-related symptom you’d expect in meningitis.