What is viral meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the thin layer of tissue that covers your brain and spinal cord. This layer of tissue is called the meninges. In viral meningitis, the infection is caused by a virus. Viral meningitis isn't usually as dangerous as meningitis caused by bacteria (bacterial meningitis).
-
Viral meningitis usually begins with fever, feeling ill, headache, and muscle aches
-
Later, your headache gets worse, and you may have a stiff neck
-
Doctors suspect viral meningitis based on your symptoms and the results of a spinal tap
-
If you have meningitis caused by HIV or herpesvirus, you're treated with drugs for those viruses, but there are no drugs that treat most types of viral meningitis
-
Most people with viral meningitis feel better in a few weeks
What causes viral meningitis?
Many different viruses can cause viral meningitis, including:
-
Stomach viruses (enteroviruses)—these are the most common cause
-
Herpesvirus, particularly genital herpes
-
Viruses carried by mosquitoes (arboviruses)
-
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, carried by infected mice or pet hamsters
You can get the viruses that cause viral meningitis in several ways, depending on which virus is the cause:
-
Touching contaminated stool which can happen when infected people swim in a public swimming pool or don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom
-
Sex or other genital contact with an infected person
-
A bite from an insect, such as a mosquito
-
Breathing in the virus in the air
-
Touching dust or food with urine or stool on it from infected mice or pet hamsters
-
Sharing needles
What are the symptoms of viral meningitis?
Symptoms may resemble those of bacterial meningitis but are usually milder and progress more slowly. At first, you may have no symptoms or symptoms similar to a cold or stomach virus, such as:
Later, you’ll have:
Most people, but not everyone, with herpes meningitis will also have herpes sores on their genitals.
How can doctors tell if I have viral meningitis?
Doctors do tests to look for viruses in the fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord (spinal fluid). To get the spinal fluid, doctors do a:
-
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
In a spinal tap, doctors put a long, thin needle in your lower back. They take out a little spinal fluid for testing. Before doing the spinal tap, doctors sometimes do an MRI or CT scan.
Doctors will also:
How a Spinal Tap Is Done
How do doctors treat viral meningitis?
Doctors give you anti-virus medicines if the cause of your meningitis is HIV or herpes. They'll also give you medicine to treat your symptoms, such as acetaminophen for a fever and headache.
Most people with viral meningitis don't need anti-virus medicine, because they'll get better within a few weeks with or without treatment. Sometimes, recovery is slow, and it can take a few months to feel better.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
acetaminophen |
TYLENOL |
