1. Understand Viral Versus Bacterial Meningitis
The tissues that cover the brain and the spinal cord are the "meninges." Inflammation of these tissues is "meningitis." Aseptic meningitis, or viral meningitis, is the most common form of this disease. Viruses, as you might expect, are the responsible infectious agent. Aseptic meningitis is a very serious illness, but it is not as life threatening as bacterial meningitis, the other type of meningitis.
2. Know the Symptoms
People who have viral meningitis can have headaches, intolerance to light, stiff necks, fevers, disorientation, lethargy and sometimes even a coma-like state of consciousness. From the time the patient is exposed to the disease until the first onset of symptoms varies from 48 hours to a few days. The illness may last from 5 to 10 days. Episodes lasting longer than 10 days are usually associated with complications.
3. Little Folks Contract It as Well
Aseptic meningitis is a relatively common illness in newborns and infants. This is because their immune systems are not yet fully "charged" with antibodies from prior exposure to viruses. In addition, the absolute distance between structures like the middle ear and sinuses and the meninges is shorter. This allows an easier migration of infection from one structure to the other. One of the problems with little folks is that their symptoms may be rather non specific. In babies, the onset of the disease may include just irritability, loss of appetite and a low grade fever.
4. Get Tested
Viral cultures can tell a doctor the exact organism causing an illness. However, these cultures are expensive and require perhaps weeks to be returned. Initially, a lumbar puncture (LP) is the most crucial test because it identifies meningitis as the cause of symptoms and whether it is a viral or bacterial infection. If spinal fluid obtained by the LP shows a prominence of lymphocytes, then the most likely type of infection is viral.
5. Mother Nature: the Primary Defense
There are no antiviral agents nearly as effective as the antibiotics used for bacterial meningitis. Those that are used, like acyclovir, are usually effective against viruses not responsible for the majority of cases. Treatment consists of supporting patients and maintaining their overall stability while their own immune systems fight off the disease. While very few patients die from aseptic meningitis, many have neurological deficits. Unfortunately, this means that patients whose immune systems are compromised, like patients with AIDS, have a high fatality rate.
