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Viral Meningitis

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2024
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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 Bacterial 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 bacterial meningitis, infection of the meninges... read more ).

What causes viral meningitis?

Many different viruses can cause viral meningitis, including:

You can get the viruses that cause viral meningitis in several ways, depending on which virus is the cause:

  • Touching contaminated stool (poop) 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 Bacterial 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 bacterial meningitis, infection of the meninges... read more 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:

  • Fever

  • Cough

  • Muscle aches

  • Throwing up

  • Not feeling hungry

Later, you’ll have:

  • Fever

  • Headache

  • Stiff neck that makes you unable to touch your chin to your chest or causes pain when you try—moving your head in other directions may not hurt as much

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:

Doctors will also:

  • Do blood tests for signs of a viral infection

How a Spinal Tap Is Done

Spinal fluid flows through a channel between the middle and inner layer of tissues (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord. To remove a sample of this fluid, a doctor inserts a small, hollow needle between two bones (vertebrae) in the lower spine, below the point where the spinal cord ends. Usually, people lie on their side with their knees curled to their chest. This position widens the space between the vertebrae, so that the doctor can avoid hitting the bones when the needle is inserted.

Doctors collect spinal fluid in test tubes and send it to a lab for testing.

Spinal Tap

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
7T Gummy ES, Acephen, Aceta, Actamin, Adult Pain Relief, Anacin Aspirin Free, Aphen, Apra, Children's Acetaminophen, Children's Pain & Fever , Children's Pain Relief, Comtrex Sore Throat Relief, ED-APAP, ElixSure Fever/Pain, Feverall, Genapap, Genebs, Goody's Back & Body Pain, Infantaire, Infants' Acetaminophen, LIQUID PAIN RELIEF, Little Fevers, Little Remedies Infant Fever + Pain Reliever, Mapap, Mapap Arthritis Pain, Mapap Infants, Mapap Junior, M-PAP, Nortemp, Ofirmev, Pain & Fever , Pain and Fever , PAIN RELIEF , PAIN RELIEF Extra Strength, Panadol, PediaCare Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Children's Smooth Metls Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Infant's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, Pediaphen, PHARBETOL, Plus PHARMA, Q-Pap, Q-Pap Extra Strength, Silapap, Triaminic Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Triaminic Infant Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Tylenol, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol 8 Hour Arthritis Pain, Tylenol 8 Hour Muscle Aches & Pain, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol Children's, Tylenol Children's Pain+Fever, Tylenol CrushableTablet, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Infants', Tylenol Infants Pain + Fever, Tylenol Junior Strength, Tylenol Pain + Fever, Tylenol Regular Strength, Tylenol Sore Throat, XS No Aspirin, XS Pain Reliever
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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