A nurse is assessing a patient admitted with fever, severe headache, and photophobia. Which assessment finding would most strongly support a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis?

A. Nuchal rigidity: Stiff neck, or nuchal rigidity, is a classic clinical sign of meningeal irritation and is strongly associated with bacterial meningitis. Inflammation of the meninges stimulates pain-sensitive structures, resulting in neck stiffness and resistance to flexion. This symptom, combined with fever, severe headache, and photophobia, supports the diagnosis. B. Sternal tenderness: Sternal tenderness is not characteristic of bacterial meningitis. It is more commonly associated with trauma, costochondritis, or other musculoskeletal conditions and does not indicate meningeal inflammation. C. Bilateral wheezing: Wheezing suggests lower airway obstruction or pulmonary involvement, such as asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia. It is unrelated to the pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis and does not support the diagnosis. D. Abdominal distention: Abdominal distention is not a symptom of bacterial meningitis. It is usually related to gastrointestinal conditions such as bowel obstruction, ileus, or ascites, and does not correlate with meningeal infection.