What specific neurological sign might be assessed in older children with meningitis?

Brudzinski's sign is a specific neurological indicator that is assessed in older children and adults for meningitis. This sign is indicative of meningeal irritation, which occurs when the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. During the examination, if a child is lying flat and the clinician raises their head, an involuntary flexion of the knees and hips signifies a positive Brudzinski's sign. This reaction suggests that the child is experiencing irritation in the meninges, commonly associated with conditions like meningitis.

In contrast, the rooting reflex is primarily a primitive reflex observed in newborns, related to feeding, and doesn't relate to neurological conditions such as meningitis. The Babinski reflex, while significant for neurological assessments in infants, serves a different purpose and is not typically used to indicate meningitis in older children. Finally, the Moro reflex is another primitive reflex that is lost as the child matures and is unrelated to meningeal irritation or assessment for meningitis. Therefore, Brudzinski's sign is the most relevant choice for evaluating neurological involvement in cases of suspected meningitis in older children.