VZV meningitis can occur at the same time as chickenpox or shingles or it can occur in its own without any rash or skin manifestation. A recent resurgence in cases in the UK largely affected late teenagers and young adults who did not receive a full course of measles-mumps-rubella MMR vaccine[1]. Measles can also cause meningitis and encephalitis. These viruses normally affect wild animals such as birds or rodents and are carried by mosquitoes or ticks.
Some of these viruses such as West Nile virus, Japanese B encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis can cause meningitis or encephalitis in humans but this is not a problem in the UK and Ireland.
Although HIV is a rare cause of viral meningitis, it is important that adults with viral meningitis due to unknown cause undergo an HIV test. This is because viral meningitis may be the first sign of infection with HIV and if it is not identified at this early stage then it may remain symptomless and undiagnosed until the individual has advanced disease or AIDS.
It is hoped that by screening such cases more individuals with HIV will be identified and treated early resulting in better outcomes. Acyclovir can be used to treat HSV infection. However, there are no effective therapies for most viruses that cause meningitis antibiotics are ineffective against viruses , so treatment is normally limited to easing the symptoms of the disease for example painkillers for headache or anti-emetics to stop vomiting.
Most people recover without any medical treatment within 5 days to a fortnight, but for some the recovery period is more prolonged. The doctor may do a lumbar puncture. This is when a sample of cerebrospinal fluid CSF is taken from the spinal canal the passageway through the back bones which contains the spinal cord.
The sample of CSF will be examined and then sent for further laboratory testing. A lumbar puncture is important to confirm the diagnosis of meningitis, and to show which germ is causing the illness. Most people recover with no noticeable effects, however recent studies have found that some patients with viral meningitis may develop short-term memory loss and attention deficits[].
There is also some evidence that children who have viral meningitis under 1 year of age, may develop subtle neurological problems later in life[7]. Am I at risk of spreading or contracting the disease if I have been in contact with a patient with viral meningitis? The risk to contacts is very low. Viral meningitis does not normally require public health measures to be taken because although some of the viruses that cause it are contagious, most people infected have no symptoms, or only very mild ones.
A person with viral meningitis may pass on the virus, but this would be very unlikely to cause another person to develop viral meningitis as well.
HIV is transmitted HSV-2 causes genital herpes Herpes Simplex Virus HSV Infections Herpes simplex virus infection causes recurring episodes of small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on the skin, mouth, lips cold sores , eyes, or genitals. HSV-2 can also cause symptoms of meningitis. HSV-2 meningitis usually occurs when the virus first infects the body. Genital and meningitis symptoms can occur at the same time. Symptoms of meningitis may appear before the genital symptoms, and some people have meningitis but do not have any genital symptoms.
After symptoms disappear, HSV-2 remains in the body in a nonactive dormant state. That is, it does not cause symptoms. However, it can become active again reactivate periodically and cause symptoms. Meningitis is inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord meninges and of the fluid-filled space The varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox Chickenpox Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection with the varicella-zoster virus that causes a characteristic itchy rash, consisting of small, raised, blistered, or crusted spots.
Like HSV-2, the varicella-zoster virus remains in the body in a nonactive state. The virus may never cause symptoms again, or it may reactivate many years later. When it reactivates, it causes shingles Shingles Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by a viral infection that results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. What causes the virus to reactive Unlike HSV infections, which can recur many times, shingles usually occurs only once in a person's lifetime.
However, people with a weakened immune system such as people with HIV infection may have shingles more than once. Zika virus Zika Virus Infection Zika virus infection is a mosquito-borne viral infection that typically causes no symptoms but can cause fever, rash, joint pain, or infection of the membrane that covers the white of the eye The animal involved depends on the type of virus. Both viruses were once present in only a few parts of the world but now have spread. Spread through the bloodstream from an infection in another part of the body the most common way.
Contact with contaminated stool, which may occur when infected people do not wash their hands after a bowel movement or when they swim in a public swimming pool for enteroviruses. A bite of an insect, such as a mosquito for West Nile virus, St.
Louis virus, Zika virus, or Chikungunya virus. Contact with dust or food contaminated by the urine or stool of infected mice or pet hamsters for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Because of the way they are spread, some viruses such as those spread by mosquitoes cause meningitis only during certain seasons. Viral meningitis usually begins with symptoms of a viral infection, such as fever, a general feeling of illness malaise , cough, muscle aches, vomiting, loss of appetite, and headache.
However, occasionally, people have no symptoms at first. Later, people have symptoms that suggest meningitis. Meningitis complications can be severe. The longer you or your child has the disease without treatment, the greater the risk of seizures and permanent neurological damage, including:. Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine. The CDC recommends that a single dose be given to children ages 11 to 12, with a booster shot given at age If the vaccine is first given between ages 13 and 15, the booster is recommended between ages 16 and If the first shot is given at age 16 or older, no booster is necessary. This vaccine can also be given to children between the ages of 2 months and 10 years who are at high risk of bacterial meningitis or who have been exposed to someone with the disease.
It's also used to vaccinate healthy but previously unvaccinated people who have been exposed in outbreaks. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluid and membranes meninges surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Meningitis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Meningitis Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the fluid and three membranes meninges protecting your brain and spinal cord.
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Meningitis and encephalitis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed Sept. Bacterial meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bartt R. Acute bacterial and viral meningitis. People usually recover completely. You can get viral meningitis by breathing in viral particles that have been sneezed or coughed into the air by another infected person.
You can also become infected by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, or through contact with faeces for example, by changing nappies. Viral meningitis is easily spread from contaminated hands to your mouth, so proper hand washing is very important for prevention. In babies, symptoms can be more difficult to recognise and may include marked fretfulness or irritability, drowsiness or reluctance to feed.
A diagnosis of viral meningitis is based on the history of symptoms, a physical examination and tests to identify the virus. These tests can include throat swabs, blood tests, a faecal poo sample and occasionally a lumbar puncture where a sample of spinal fluid is taken. Your doctor will tell you how long you will be infectious, and this will depend on the specific virus that caused the viral meningitis.
Your doctor should also tell you how long you should stay away from school or work. There is no specific medication for viral meningitis. People usually recover completely from viral meningitis. However, you may be admitted to hospital so doctors can rule out other, more serious causes of infection.
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