Strep throat, meningitis and mononucleosis are some of the infections that cause neck pain and stiffness.

Neck pain has often been associated with muscle injury. Inappropriate sleeping position can strain the neck muscles, eventually leading to neck pain. However, apart from muscle strains and sprains, neck pain can also occur as a consequence of infections. Thus, neck pain does not necessarily mean damage to the muscles but can also indicate some sort of infection.

Common Cold
Common cold typically marked by runny nose and breathing problems is a viral infection of the nasal passages. This infection that is prevalent in winter season can cause both neck and ear pain.

Meningitis
The membranes that form a covering over the brain and the spinal cord are called meninges. The condition in which the meninges get affected with a bacterial or viral infection is referred to as meningitis. Meninges provide protection to the spinal cord and brain but when they get infected, inflammation of these membranes occurs. Inflamed meninges can trigger moderate to severe neck pain and headaches, high fever followed by neck pain and stiffness. Difficulty in moving the head freely due to stiff neck is commonly observed in meningitis patients. A bacterial infection of the meninges is far more worrisome than a viral infection. Brain damage and hearing loss are some of the complications associated with bacterial meningitis, if treatment is delayed.

Strep Throat
A strep throat can also produce neck pain. Strep throat occurs after exposure to streptococcal bacteria and is typically marked by difficulty in swallowing food. Persistent scratchy feeling in the throat keeps on bothering people suffering from strep throat. Patients also complain about neck pain and this may due to swollen lymph nodes of the neck area. Although, strep throat frequently occurs in children in the age group of 5-15, it can also affect adults. In addition to sore throat, the bacterial infection can also decrease appetite and cause abnormal taste.

Mononucleosis
This is an infection of Epstein-Barr virus that gives a feeling of tiredness, lasting for weeks. Other than endless fatigue, the virus causes sore throat and high fever. The tonsils also become inflamed, which leads to discomfort in the frontal part of the neck. Mononucleosis can strike people of all ages but is a rarity in the elderly. Also, when it occurs in children, it appears in its least severe form as the symptoms are not a cause for concern. However, young adults affected with this viral infection often complain about bothersome symptoms. Having oral sex with an infected partner increases the chances of spreading the infection as the virus can easily pass from one person to another through saliva. The other medium of transmission from person to person is exposure to sneezing or coughing of an infected person.

Lymphadenitis
In this condition, the lymph nodes in various parts of the body including the neck and armpits suffer from a viral or bacterial infection and get inflamed. The lymph nodes are small bean-shaped glandular organs that store white blood cells, which help to combat infection. They do the job of separating harmful microbes from a fluid referred to as lymph. The microbes are then destroyed by the white blood cells. Although lymph nodes prevent infections from happening, they too can get infected by virus or bacteria, especially the streptococcus strains of bacteria. However, lymphadenitis can also occur as a consequence of various types of cancers such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Autoimmune disorders like AIDS can also trigger lymphadenitis that brings about inflammation of the lymph nodes.

Treatment

As aforementioned, persistent neck pain from infections is signaling the presence of an underlying condition. Hence, diagnosing the root cause is the key to overcome stiffness in neck. Strep throat characterized by trouble swallowing is treated with antibiotics like amoxicillin. In case of mononucleosis, focus is on home remedies that involve gargling with salt water and taking adequate rest. This is likely to provide relief from fatigue and sore throat associated with mononucleosis. On the other hand, meningitis treatment depends upon the type of infection. A viral meningitis isn't a serious condition and usually gets cured without any medical treatment. Whereas, bacterial meningitis can cause devastating consequences if timely treatment is not given. Treatment for bacterial meningitis involves administering antibiotics intravenously. Intravenous administration of drugs works faster in healing the infection. Doctors usually prescribe broad spectrum antibiotic, drugs that are formulated to kill a variety of bacterial strains.

To conclude, neck stiffness and pain due to infections require treatment at the earliest to prevent any health complications. Unlike muscle injury, neck discomfort from infections doesn't subside and only aggravates over time with no treatment. Hence, one should not hesitate to contact a doctor when it comes to curing persistent neck pain.