VIRAL MENINGITIS

What is meningitis? 

— Meningitis is a condition that can cause a fever, headache, and stiff neck. Meningitis happens when the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord (called the “meninges”) gets inflamed or infected. This can occur after a person has an infection in another part of the body. The germs can travel through the blood to the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

There are 2 main types of meningitis, depending on which germs are causing the infection. Viruses cause viral meningitis, and bacteria cause bacterial meningitis.

It is important that doctors figure out what kind of meningitis a person has. That’s because bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency. It can lead to brain problems or even death.

Viral meningitis is serious, but not usually as serious as bacterial meningitis. People usually recover from viral meningitis within 1 to 2 weeks without any long-term problems.

Both viral and bacterial meningitis can have the same symptoms. So the only way a doctor can know for sure which type of meningitis someone has is to do tests in the hospital.

This article discusses viral meningitis.

What are the symptoms of viral meningitis? — Common symptoms include:

●Fever

●Headache

●Stiff neck – This is most often seen in adults and children. Babies might not get a stiff neck.

●Nausea or vomiting

●Having light bother a person’s eyes

Babies can also have other symptoms, including:

●Not feeding well

●Being more sleepy or fussy than usual

●A bulging soft spot on the skull

People can have other symptoms, too, depending on the virus that’s causing the infection. These can include diarrhea, a runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, or a rash. A rash can also happen with bacterial meningitis.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you have a fever, headache, and stiff neck, go to the emergency room right away. If you think that your child has meningitis, bring him or her to the emergency room right away.

It’s very important to go to the hospital if you think you or your child has meningitis. That’s because the only way a doctor can make sure someone has viral meningitis – and not life-threatening bacterial meningitis – is to do tests in the hospital.

Will I have tests? 

— Yes. Your doctor or nurse will learn about your symptoms and do an exam. He or she will do tests to find out if you have meningitis and which virus is causing it. The tests can include:

●Blood tests

●A lumbar puncture (sometimes called a “spinal tap”) – During this procedure, a doctor puts a thin needle into your lower back and removes a small amount of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. He or she will do lab tests on the spinal fluid.

●A CT scan of the brain – This is an imaging test that creates pictures of the brain.

●Other tests – For example, the doctor can use a cotton swab to collect a sample from the back of the throat. Then he or she can do lab tests on the sample.

How is viral meningitis treated? — Treatment for viral meningitis usually includes:

●Resting

●Drinking fluids or getting fluids into a vein through a tube called an “IV”

●Taking an over-the-counter medicine to treat a fever or headache

Viral meningitis is NOT treated with antibiotics. This is because antibiotics treat bacterial infections, and not viral infections.

Your doctor might recommend other treatment, depending on the virus that’s causing the infection. Some viruses can be treated with “antiviral” medicines.

Can meningitis be spread from one person to another? — Yes. The viruses that cause meningitis can be spread from one person to another. But even if you catch the virus, it doesn’t usually lead to meningitis.

Can viral meningitis be prevented? — To help lower the chance of getting viral meningitis, you can:

●Make sure that you and your children get the vaccines your doctor recommends. Vaccines are treatments that can prevent certain serious infections.

●Wash your hands often, especially after you change a diaper or use the bathroom, and before you eat.

●Avoid sharing cups or silverware, especially with people who are sick.

●Avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Some mosquitoes carry viruses that can infect you and lead to meningitis