Which condition is characterized by a positive Kernig's sign and associated symptoms of high fever and a stiff neck?

The condition characterized by a positive Kernig's sign, along with high fever and a stiff neck, is indicative of meningitis, particularly viral or bacterial meningitis. A positive Kernig's sign demonstrates resistance or pain when attempting to extend the knee while the hip is flexed, which is a classic neurological sign showing irritation of the meninges. This sign, when observed with symptoms such as a high fever and neck stiffness, aligns with the clinical presentation of meningococcemia, a serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis that often leads to meningitis.

Meningococcemia can produce systemic symptoms like fever due to sepsis and also cause neurological symptoms as the infection can spread to the central nervous system, leading to meningitis. The triad of fever, neck stiffness, and a positive Kernig's sign is key for the diagnosis.

Other conditions listed are not typically associated with the classic signs of meningeal irritation. For example, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme are primarily skin reactions with a different symptomatology, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, while it can cause fever and headache, generally does not present with a stiff neck or a positive Kernig's sign as part of its