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MeningitisFacts.com is brought to you by AllNetHealth.com and is intended to provide basic information that you can use to make informed decisions about important health issues affecting you or your loved ones. We hope that you’ll find this information about Meningitis helpful and that you’ll seek professional medical advice to address any specific symptoms you might have related to this matter.
In addition to this site, we have created the "Healthpedia Network" of sites to provide specific information on a wide variety of health topics.
What are the symptoms of meningitis? Is viral meningitis a serious disease? How is viral meningitis diagnosed? How is viral meningitis treated? How can I reduce my chances of becoming infected? Where can I buy home test kits for contributing factors of this condition? Meningitis is an illness
in which there is inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and
spinal cord. Viral or "aseptic" meningitis, which is the most common
type, is caused by an infection with one of several types of viruses.
Meningitis can also be caused by infections with several types of
bacteria or fungi. In the United States, there are between 25,000 and
50,000 hospitalizations due to viral meningitis each year. The more common symptoms
of meningitis are fever, severe headache, stiff neck, bright lights
hurting the eyes, drowsiness or confusion, and nausea and vomiting. In
babies, the symptoms are more difficult to identify. They may include
fever, fretfulness or irritability, difficulty in awakening the baby, or
the baby refuses to eat. The symptoms of meningitis may not be the same
for every person. Viral ("aseptic")
meningitis is serious but rarely fatal in persons with normal immune
systems. Usually, the symptoms last from 7 to 10 days and the patient
recovers completely. Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, can be
very serious and result in disability or death if not treated promptly.
Often, the symptoms of viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis are the
same. For this reason, if you think you or your child has meningitis,
see your doctor as soon as possible. Many different viruses
can cause meningitis. About 90% of cases of viral meningitis are caused
by members of a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, such as
coxsackieviruses and echoviruses. These viruses are more common during
summer and fall months. Herpes viruses and the mumps virus can also
cause viral meningitis. Viral meningitis is
usually diagnosed by laboratory tests of spinal fluid obtained with a
spinal tap. The specific cause of viral meningitis can be determined by
tests that identify the virus in specimens collected from the patient,
but these tests are rarely done. No specific treatment for
viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients completely recover
on their own. Doctors often will recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids,
and medicine to relieve fever and headache. Enteroviruses, the most
common cause of viral meningitis, are most often spread through direct
contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal
mucus) of an infected person. This usually happens by shaking hands with
an infected person or touching something they have handled, and then
rubbing your own nose or mouth. The virus can also be found in the stool
of persons who are infected. The virus is spread through this route
mainly among small children who are not yet toilet trained. It can also
be spread this way to adults changing the diapers of an infected infant.
The incubation period for enteroviruses is usually between 3 and 7 days
from the time you are infected until you develop symptoms. You can
usually spread the virus to someone else beginning about 3 days after
you are infected until about 10 days after you develop symptoms. The viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are very common during the summer and early fall, and many people are exposed to them. However, most infected persons either have no symptoms or develop only a cold or rash with low-grade fever. Only a small proportion of infected persons actually develop meningitis. Therefore, if you are around someone who has viral meningitis, you have a moderate chance of becoming infected, but a very small chance of developing meningitis. How can I reduce my chances of becoming infected? (top) Because most persons who are infected with enteroviruses do not become sick, it can be difficult to prevent the spread of the virus. However, adhering to good personal hygiene can help to reduce your chances of becoming infected. If you are in contact with someone who has viral meningitis, the most effective method of prevention is to wash your hands thoroughly and often. Also, cleaning contaminated surfaces and soiled articles first with soap and water, and then disinfecting them with a dilute solution of chlorine-containing bleach (made by mixing approximately ¼ cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water) can be a very effective way to inactivate the virus, especially in institutional settings such as child care centers.
Click here
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