- Exclude contraindications to lumbar puncture
- Aid in diagnosis of meningitis or identification of other causative pathologies
- Evaluate for conditions predisposing to meningitis (skull fracture, sinus or mastoid infection, congenital anomalies)
- Identify and monitor complications of meningitis (hydrocephalus, subdural effusion, empyema, and infarction and exclude parenchymal abscess and ventriculitis)
