Viral meningitis

Proven content

Viral meningitis is caused by enteroviruses in most people. Infection with tick-borne meningitis virus, herpes virus, or mumps virus is much less common. In addition to viruses, serous meningitis can cause protozoa, pale spirochetes, fungi, mycobacteria, and leptospires.

Definition of viral meningitis

Meningitis is a disease caused mainly by enteroviruses (ECHO, polio, Coxsackie A and B). In the course of the disease, lesions include brain structures such as its lining, parenchyma and spider veins, and the subarachnoid space. Apart from enteroviruses, other groups of microorganisms may also be responsible for the infection, e.g. fungi, herpes virus or bacteria. As a rule, meningitis is milder than bacterial meningitis, which is often life-threatening.

What are the causes of viral meningitis?

Man is infected with viruses usually by droplets through the respiratory and digestive systems. The source of meningitis viruses are usually sick people, and the infection itself is characterized by three forms:

1. infectious (such an infection can be, for example, shingles, chicken pox, mumps and sometimes flu; the disease is generally very mild, without any disturbance of the nervous system);
2. biphasic (this form of infection is usually caused by Coxsackie A and B viruses and ECHO. High temperature (lasting up to 3 days) and gastrointestinal complaints and flu-like symptoms, such as enlarged lymph nodes, are characteristic;
3. primary (occurs as a result of the activation of viruses present in the body, e.g. herpes virus).

Symptoms of viral meningitis

The symptoms of viral meningitis are similar to those of bacterial inflammation, the only difference is in the severity of the symptoms. The symptoms of viral inflammation are much milder and cause fewer complications. Viral inflammation is usually preceded by an infection of the upper respiratory tract.

The onset of viral meningitis is usually acute. It is observed:

1. increase in body temperature,
2. headaches,
3. catarrh of the upper respiratory tract,
4. sometimes diarrhea.

After a few days without fever, it starts to increase again. Viral meningitis is usually mild with the exception of severe herpetic meningitis.

Symptoms in newborns

There are symptoms of the disease in this group of patients not very specific, there is no high temperature or characteristic meningeal symptoms. Parents most often visit a doctor with their child when they notice disturbing behavior. The child may be sleepy, restless, and sometimes even overstimulated. He often loses interest in his surroundings and favorite toys. These symptoms are accompanied by symptoms that indicate an infection, e.g. vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, trouble breathing. The gray skin and jaundice that lasts too long are also disturbing. Parents’ attention is also drawn to the unusual position of the child: on its side with its head tilted back and its lower limbs tucked in (opisthotonus). Unlike bacterial meningitis in children, neurological symptoms are less frequently observed. Although there are cases in which the child experiences nystagmus and muscle tension disorders. If left untreated, the condition of a newborn baby may consequently increase its head circumference and cause hydrocephalus.

Viral meningitis – diagnosis

The most important diagnostic methods used in meningitis are:

1. examination of the cerebrospinal fluid,
2. Cerebrospinal fluid culture (collected by invasive lumbar puncture).

In addition, it is important to conduct a medical interview with the patient (in the case of a child’s disease – conversation with the parents) and physical examination of the patient. In a medical examination, it is necessary to look at the general condition of the patient, to notice any disturbances in consciousness and to assess vital functions. In addition, the physician should measure the patient’s blood pressure and check the patient’s heart rate. Checks also require signs of head injuries and the presence of a potential skin rash, which is common in viral infections.

Other tests performed in the diagnosis of the disease are:

1. blood culture,
2. blood laboratory tests,
3. physical and medical examinations of the patient (assessment of disease symptoms),
4. brain imaging studies (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging).

How To Treat Viral Meningitis?

Treatment of the disease, as a rule, is symptomatic, that is, it includes;

1. treatment of high temperature and pain,
2. the sick person’s rest,
3. improvement of electrolyte disturbances,
4. therapy to eliminate seizures,
5. anti-inflammatory treatment (glucocorticosteroids),
6. taking diuretics that lower intracranial pressure and brain swelling,
7. proper hydration of the patient to prevent dehydration and hyperhydration.

In treatment, it is important to prevent viral meningitis in children. The risk of the disease is much greater when they have measles, mumps, chickenpox or polio. Vaccines are an effective method of prevention, reducing the risk of complications of these ailments, i.e. viral meningitis.

Sometimes patients are also given antiviral preparations, especially in the case of infection with chickenpox or herpes virus (acyclovir is administered).

Viral meningitis – complications

The risk of complications from viral meningitis is much lower than with bacterial meningitis. Possible complications of the disease are:

1. epilepsy,
2. swelling of the brain
3. seizures
4. syndrome of inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

Serious health problems rarely occur.

Prevention of viral meningitis

Certain types of viral meningitis are prevented by immunization. The emergence of vaccinations changed the epidemiological situation in Poland, currently the most common causes of the disease are enteroviruses and tick-borne encephalitis viruses. Before vaccination, it was a mumps.

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