Although hiv is a rare cause of viral meningitis, it is important that adults with viral meningitis due. Viral meningitis also called aseptic meningitis is the most common type of infectious meningitis. Viral meningitis is usually much less severe than other types. First, a multitude of viruses can cause meningitis, each with its own characteristic mode of transmission, presentation, and workup. Intravenous iv antibiotics should be administered promptly if bacterial meningitis is suspected. Meningitis and encephalitis fact sheet national institute. Review emergency diagnosis and treatment of adult meningitis. Viral meningitis is diagnosed using laboratory tests e. Meningitis can only be diagnosed by doing specific lab tests on specimens from a person suspected of having meningitis. Viral meningitis can also be a complication of mumps, chickenpox, or other viral diseases. It can be caused by a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and chemicals.
Viral meningitis antibiotics cant treat viral meningitis and, in most cases, the infection goes away on its own with time. Sep 15, 2008 a common bedside clinical challenge is whether a case of meningitis has a viral or bacterial etiology, because this will define the treatment. Viral meningitis aseptic or nonbacterial meningitis. Meningitis can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Treatment usually involves measures to relieve symptoms. Neuroimaging delays the treatment of meningitis and is not needed in most cases. Severe viral meningitis may also be treated in hospital. Results from recent studies have implications for current treatment guidelines for adults with suspected bacterial meningitis, and it is important that. Most people with viral meningitis recover fully within a week. Viral meningitis mexico pdf ppt case reports symptoms. Viral meningitis is more common in the summer and early fall. Your health care provider may recommend rest, drinking plenty of fluids and prescribe medications to control fever and pain. Meningococcal meningitis is observed worldwide, but the highest burden of the disease is in the meningitis belt of subsaharan africa from senegal to ethiopia, with approximately 30,000 cases reported each year. Initial presentation can be very non specific, with symptoms such as fever and cold limbs.
Because the illness is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not useful for treatment and will not make the patient feel better. The threshold is usually set low, so that in cases of doubt, antibiotics are prescribed, as was the case for 4 patients in this study. Treatment in most cases, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. The early symptoms of pam are similar to other more common illnesses, such as bacterial or viral meningitis. Viral meningitis frequently asked questions what is viral meningitis. Communityacquired acute meningitis and encephalitis. In contrast to aseptic viral meningitis, neuropsychiatric symptoms often predominate in encephalitis, for example, anomia, hallucinations, psychosis, personality changes,and agitation. Acute encephalitis constitutes a neurological emergency and it is imperative that appropriate treatment. Bacterial meningitis is a potentially catastrophic infectious disease associated with substantial mortality and a risk of permanent disability in survivors. Despite the existence of antibiotic therapies against acute bacterial meningitis, patients with the disease continue to suffer significant morbidity and mortality in both high and lowincome countries. Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is caused by an infection with one of several types of viruses.
Nm serotype distribution varies worldwide, with six nm serogroups a, b, c, w, x, y responsible for most. Diagnosis and treatment of viral encephalitis postgraduate. Recovery is usually complete and associated with low mortality rates. However, these medications can have serious side effects, so treatment may be deferred until a laboratory can confirm that the cause is fungal. Its typically mild and goes away without treatment. Viral meningitis is an infection caused by viruses and bacterial meningitis is an infection caused by bacteria. Acute encephalitis constitutes a medical emergency. Increased intracranial pressure in the setting of enterovirus. Viral meningitis occurs most commonly in those under the age of 30, with a predominance in neonates and children. A variety of viruses can cause meningitis, including those that cause gastroenteritis, measles, mumps, chicken pox and herpes. Viral meningitis is a virusborne inflammation of the meninges, which are the. Disease fact sheet viral meningitis what is meningitis. Apr 03, 2018 viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis.
Hsv1 typically causes encephalitis rather than meningitis. Antibiotics do not help viral infections, so they are not useful in the treatment of viral meningitis. Viral diagnosis informs prognosis, enhances care of the patient, reduces the use of antibiotics. Meningitis is an infection of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord meninges. Viral causes of meningitis include herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, enterovirus, mumps virus, herpesvirus, parechovirus, cytomegalovirus, and measles virus. Viral meningitis, which is the most common type, is caused by an infection with one of several types of viruses.
November 2006 viral meningitis is also available in portable document format pdf, 15kb, 2pg. It should be used empirically in any patient with clinical signs of encephalitis or with. It is usually caused by an infection from one of a group of viruses known as enterovirus, such as coxsackievirus and echovirus. Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges the covering of the brain and spinal cord caused by infection with a virus.
It is important to see a medical provider if you think you have meningitis because they can test for bacterial. Meningitis can be caused by many different germs including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In cases of viral meningitis it is not always possible to identify the type of virus responsible for the disease approximately 3040% of patients have no pathogen identified. Sep 01, 2017 aseptic meningitis is the most common form of meningitis with an annual incidence of 7. Meningitis in children beyond the basics acute disseminated encephalomyelitis adem in children. However disease from certain viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza requires treatment with an antiviral medication.
Fortunately, viral meningitis is rarely life threatening and no specific treatment is needed. Viral meningitis aseptic or nonbacterial meningitis what is viral meningitis. Antiviral drugs used to treat viral encephalitis include acyclovir and ganciclovir. In particular, meningitis is a major cause of death in children under 5 years old. Meningitis is an illness in which there is inflammation of the tissues th at cover the brain and spinal cord. Incidence, aetiology, and sequelae of viral meningitis. Viral meningitis is inflammation of the leptomeniges due to a viral agent. Review diagnosis and treatment of viral encephalitis. Doctors diagnose pam using specific laboratory tests that are only available in a few u. Physicians often recommend rest, plenty of fluids, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to relieve fever and headache. Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis, an inflammation of the tissue. Several types of viral meningitis cases are vaccinepreventable including those caused by vzv, mumps, influenza, and measles. Herpes simplex virus causes viral meningitis, which may recur. In most cases, the presence of focal neurological signs and focal seizures will distinguish encephalitis from encephalopathy.
Diagnosis and treatment of viral meningitis journal of. It is usually less severe than bacterial meningitis. Most cases of aseptic meningitis are viral and require supportive care. Viral meningitis nonbacterial meningitis fact sheet. Meningitis caused by bacteria is the most likely form of the disease to cause serious, longterm complications. Antiviral medicine may help people with meningitis caused by viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza. Rare causes of viral meningitis include influenza, parainfluenza, rotavirus, vaccinia, and encephalomyocarditis virus. Viral meningitis is an infection of the membranes linings that cover the brain and spinal cord. Stop antibacterials, antivirals and steroid treatment if enteroviral or mumps meningitis is diagnosed and manage symptomatically. Management of suspected viral encephalitis and meningitis in adults. Aseptic meningitis is the most common form of meningitis with an annual incidence of 7.
Treatment in hospital is recommended in all cases of bacterial meningitis, as the condition can cause serious problems and requires close monitoring. With few exceptions, the clinical manifestations and symptoms associated with viral meningitis are similar for the different causative agents. Early diagnosis of viral meningitis may allow antibiotics to be stopped and patients to be discharged from the hospital. Jul 17, 2018 treatment for viral meningitis is mostly supportive. There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Emergency diagnosis and treatment of adult meningitis the. Most often it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
In most cases, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Mar 16, 2020 antibiotics, developed to kill bacteria, are not effective against viruses. Antibiotics are useful only in cases of bacterial meningitis. It is difficult to distinguish viral from bacterial meningitis clinically. It results in inflammation of the meninges the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms commonly include headache, fever, sensitivity to light and neck stiffness viruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis. Viral meningitis boston health care for the homeless program. Most patients recover without treatment within seven to ten days. Viral meningitis british medical bulletin oxford academic. Infection pathogen empirical treatment comments bacterial meningitis pneumococcus community acquired ref. The most important decision is whether to initiate antimicrobial therapy empirically for bacterial meningitis while waiting for the cause to be identified. Acute encephalitis constitutes a neurological emergency and it is imperative that appropriate treatment is started as soon. Treatment for viral meningitis is mostly supportive. Background viral meningitis is increasingly recognised, but little is known about the frequency with.
If meningitis is strongly suspected, antibiotics should be commenced within 1 hour of arrival. Clinical features e the typical viral meningitis syndrome comprises a triad of symptoms and signs of acute onset. Diagnosing viral meningitis is complex for two reasons. Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacteria neisseria meningitidis, and causes a more severe disease that requires prompt treatment of the patient with antibiotics. Dec 17, 2019 it is important to distinguish viral meningitis from bacterial meningitis, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and requires urgent treatment. With increased use of conjugate vaccines, the annual incidence of bacterial meningitis in the united states declined from 1. Viral meningitis fact sheet virginia department of health. Nov 19, 2012 like fungal meningitis, it is not contagious, but parasitic meningitis has no effective treatment or cure.
Viral meningitis viral meningitis is usually much less severe than bacterial meningitis, except in cases where the virus has also caused inflammation of the brain encephalitis as well as meningitis. Pam is difficult to diagnose because of the rarity of the infection and the nonspecific early symptoms. Most cases of viral meningitis are caused by enteroviruses. Any meningitis that is not parasitic, fungal, viral or bacterial is termed noninfectious. It is an uncommon disease but requires urgent treatment with antibiotics to prevent permanent damage or death. Diagnosis, initial management, and prevention of meningitis. Mar 04, 2021 viral meningitis is caused by viruses found in sputum, blood, nose drainage, and bowel movements. Features of viral and bacterial meningitis in children csf analysis in cns infections antiviral dosing for flu treatment in children etiology of aseptic meningitis management of suspected meningitis in children related topics. It is the most common cause of meningitis, with an annual incidence of 10 to 11 people per 100,000. For most of the cases, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Fungal meningitis is treated with intravenous antifungal medications. Most people who get mild viral meningitis usually recover completely in 7 to 10 days without treatment. This includes rest, fluids, and feverreducing medicine. Table 1 lists the causes of viral meningitis by frequency.
Mostly people completely recover on their own within 7 to 10 days. Because viral meningitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not used to treat it, and will not make you feel better. Treatment for chronic meningitis is based on the underlying cause. Viral vs bacterial meningitis fact sheet pdf 80kb view, download and print the viral vs bacterial meningitis fact sheet. Vaccination in other viral diseases vaccinating the entire nation against influenza to prevent 6,000 deaths is hard to justify, but the bigger lie is even worse.
Antifungal medications treat fungal meningitis, and a combination of specific antibiotics can treat tuberculous meningitis. It is often less severe than bacterial meningitis, and most. Viral meningitis is most common and the least serious. Diseases which can cause viral meningitis or encephalitis include mumps, measles and polio.
It is important to distinguish viral meningitis from bacterial meningitis, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and requires urgent treatment. Dilemmas exist for emergency medicine and primarycare providers who need to accurately diagnose patients with bacterial meningitis and then rapidly administer antibiotics and adjunctive. There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis and most people recover within a week to ten days. Bacterial meningitis remains one of the most dreaded infections, but rapid diagnosis and early treatment can significantly reduce both the mortality and longterm neurological sequelae.
Many viruses, such as enteroviruses, herpesviruses, and influenza viruses, can cause this neurological disorder. Viral meningitis is a central nervous system cns infection characterized by signs and symptoms of meningeal inflammation in the absence of positive bacterial. It is often less severe than bacterial meningitis, and most people get better on their own without treatment. Bacterial meningitis may also be suggested by symptoms of meningism and. Rest, hydration, antipyretics, and pain or antiinflammatory medications may be given as needed. Other significant causes of viral meningitis are illustrated in table 1. Aseptic meningitis in infants younger than 2 years of age. In general, there are no medications to fight the germs that cause viral meningitis, so treatment is usually aimed at easing the symptoms. When a virus infects the lining of the brain and spinal cord it is called viral meningitis. The virus is spread from an infected person to another by coughing, kissing, or sharing food or drinks. Cases with a diagnosis of viral meningitis, aseptic meningitis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or pseudotumor cerebri were identified from an existing database of all patients seen by the inpatient pediatric neurology consultation service over the fiveyear period from july 1, 2009, to june 30, 2014. Viral vs bacterial meningitis middlesexlondon health unit. Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges associated with acute onset of meningeal symptoms and fever. Viral meningitis is a common disease caused by a virus that infects the outer covering of the brain and spinal cord.
Viral meningitis oxford academic journals oxford university press. Suspected infective meningitis should always be considered as a medical emergency. Viral meningitis is rarely serious, although symptoms may be severe. British infection association early management flow chart 2016. You may also get a type of viral meningitis if you are bitten by a mosquito that carries the west nile virus. Less than 1 in 100 people who get infected will develop meningitis. Viral meningitis also known as nonbacterial meningitis is caused by a number of different viruses and is relatively common. Most cases of recurrent viral meningitis are caused by hsv2. Meningitis is an inflammation of coverings meninges of the brain and spinal cord. Garlic can be very beneficial for those suffering from meningitis as the allicin and various. Viral meningitis is an infection of the meninges a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord by any one of a number of different viruses. Bacterial or viral meningitis is confirmed by the detection of a pathogen in the csf. Other infectious agents such as fungi can also cause meningitis. Bacterial meningitis requires close monitoring in the hospital.
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