Meningitis is an infection of the membranes that encase the brain and spinal cord, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS. Both bacteria and viruses cause meningitis, but the viral form is usually mild and not lethal. People at any age can contract meningitis, and the symptoms are usually the same for adults over 50 as for anyone else.
Meningitis Symptoms
High fever, severe headache and a stiff neck are the hallmarks of all forms of meningitis in anyone over 2 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. These symptoms can take up to two days to develop or they can arise quickly in just a matter of hours. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, confusion, loss of appetite, extreme sleepiness, rash, difficulty waking and light sensitivity. As the disease worsens, seizures are possible.
Viral Meningitis Early Signs
Most cases of viral meningitis are caused by enteroviruses, which can cause no symptoms at all but can also cause a cold, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, joint aches, headache or mouth sores with a low fever, according to MayoClinic.com. Those symptoms may occur for a few days before viral meningitis develops. Enteroviruses are common, and most people do not develop meningitis from them. They tend to occur in late summer and early fall. Viral meningitis can also be a complication of other viral infections including mumps, herpes, Epstein-Barr, West Nile virus, chickenpox, measles and flu.
Viral Vs. Bacterial Meningitis
Viral and bacterial meningitis have the same symptoms and are difficult to tell apart at first, according to the CDC. But viral meningitis usually lasts only 7 to10 days, and most patients recover completely. Bacterial meningitis can cause death or disability if not treated immediately and recovery usually takes longer. For this reason, anyone who suspects meningitis should seek emergency care. Doctors will test to see what is causing the disease and begin emergency treatment. Patients with viral meningitis should start feeling better in 1 to 2 days. Patients with bacterial meningitis may take a day longer to respond to treatment and they are more likely to have long-term complications like brain damage or loss of memory, vision, speech or hearing, according to NINDS.
