Meningitis is an inflammation of the connective tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. The Merck Manual explains that these membranes, called the meninges, are made up of three layers of tissue, and inflammation from meningitis occurs in the subarachnoid space between the two inner layers. More common but less severe than bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis may cause symptoms that usually last from seven to 10 days before complete recovery.
Common Symptoms in Infants
Since newborns and babies under one year of age cannot describe their symptoms, adults must look out for subtle signs, warns the staff of the Mayo Clinic. An attentive observer may notice behavioral signs, such as irritability that only increases when someone picks up the infant to comfort her, or drowsiness when awake along with difficulty waking up. The infant may move more slowly than usual and may have trouble feeding. Physical signs may include vomiting and high fever. The soft spot on the top of the child's head, known as the fontanel, may bulge outwards. Parents who notice these signs should seek medical help immediately, to determine whether the infant has viral meningitis, or the possibly fatal bacterial form.
Common Symptoms in Children and Adults
The symptoms of viral meningitis in adults and older children may appear within a few hours, or in one to two days. They include severe headache, fever, confusion, vomiting, nausea and stiffness in the neck, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A person may find it difficult to wake up and may feel drowsy during waking hours. They may become sensitive to bright lights and feel pain when they move their eyes. They might also notice that they have a diminished appetite.
Less Common Symptoms
Some of the rarer symptoms include double vision or diplopia, and paresthesia, a tickling, burning or itching sensation on the skin of one or several of the extremities. Another rare sign that may appear intermittently, known as an extensor plantar response, involves the reflex arching of the big toe upon stimulation of the sole of the foot.
References
- Merck Manual: Aseptic Meningitis
- Mayo Clinic: Meningitis - Symptoms
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Meningitis Questions & Answers
- National Institues of Health: Meningitis
- " Walsh and Hoyt's Clinical Neuro-Ophthalmology, 6th Edition"; Neil R Miller, et al, Editors; 2004
