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Viral Meningitis

This fact sheet answers frequently asked questions about Viral Meningitis.

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Viral meningitis is an infection of the fluid that surrounds a person’s spinal cord and brain.

The basics

What is viral meningitis?

Many types of viruses can cause this disease, including common intestinal viruses. Occasionally, children with mumps virus or herpes virus can develop meningitis. Mosquito-borne viruses also account for some cases of viral meningitis. Often, we can't identify a specific virus as the cause for meningitis.

Who gets viral meningitis?

Anyone can get viral meningitis, but it occurs most often in children. It is most common in the summer and early fall.

How is the virus spread?

The way people get viral meningitis depends on the virus involved. Some viruses that cause meningitis spread by person-to-person contact; others spread by insects.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms?

High fever, headache, general tiredness and stiff neck are common symptoms. Other symptoms could include rash, sore throat, and vomiting. Viral meningitis is usually mild and unlike bacterial meningitis is rarely fatal. In babies, the symptoms include:

  • fever
  • fussiness
  • crying
  • swelling of the soft spot on the babies head
  • refusing to eat
  • difficulty waking up

Symptoms typically last 7-10 days.

How soon do symptoms appear?

Symptoms appear 1-10 days after exposure, but usually in less than 4 days.

Prevention

How can you prevent viral meningitis?

People with viral meningitis should thoroughly wash their hands after using the toilet, changing diapers, or blowing their nose, and before preparing or eating food. The infected person should also cover their cough and sneeze. If possible, stay inside between dusk and dark to avoid mosquitoes. When outside at dusk or at night use insect repellent and wear long pants with a long-sleeved shirt.

Treatment

How is viral meningitis treated?

There are no specific medicines or antibiotics used to treat viral meningitis. Most patients recover within 7-10 days.

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