A young child may not be able to tell you if he or she has neck pain or stiffness, so you must look for the following signs. Neck pain or stiffness can be a sign of infection or bleeding within or around the brain. Your child needs to be evaluated by a health professional if your child has neck pain or a stiff neck and:

• A fever.
• Vomiting.
• Fussiness or irritability.
• Extreme sleepiness.

Your child has severe neck stiffness if he or she:

• Cries when his or her head or neck is moved.
• Is reluctant to move his or her head or neck.
• Appears to be in pain when his or her chin is moved toward the chest or tilted backwards.