Rash illness and stiff neck

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hello...yesterday. I had a rash appear on my arms and feet...inside arms.......then my neck got really stiff and sore. My neck had been a little sore for a few days. Today, the rash has mostly gone away and my neck is still a little sore....but nothing major. Should I be worried???

I still suggest you have yourself checked. What you are having could just be a benign rash but you have not described how your rash looked. Meningococcemia can cause a rash illness and sore neck too. Sore neck in meningococcemia will usually have difficulty bending the neck forward (also called nuchal rigidity). This should not be taken lightly because it has serious, life-threatening consequences. As soon as a doctor can see what kind of rash you are having and serious causes of “sore neck” can be ruled out, then there is no need to worry. I do hope this helps.