Which of the following is NOT a typical symptom of bacterial meningitis?

• A. Neck stiffness
• B. Fever
• C. Progressive memory loss
• D. Leukocytosis

Answer: (C)

Acute bacterial meningitis typically presents with signs of meningeal irritation and systemic infection. Fever and neck stiffness arise from inflammation of the meninges and are classic early symptoms, with leukocytosis often seen as the blood reflects the immune response to infection. Progressive memory loss is not a usual feature of the initial presentation; memory problems can occur later or in other neurological conditions, but they don’t characterize the acute course of bacterial meningitis. So the option describing progressive memory loss best fits as not typical.