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Floyd,
Battle Creek
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The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.
If you
have any questions about managing your health and/or seeking medical care, please contact a medical
professional. |
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October/November
2007
Viral and Bacterial Meningitis:
Two Forms of This Serious Illness Can Have
Similar Symptoms, but Very Different Results
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A fever is one of the common warning signs of
meningitis, along with severe headache, stiff
neck, bright lights hurting the eyes, drowsiness
or confusion, and nausea and vomiting. |
Viral ("aseptic") meningitis is serious
but rarely fatal in persons with normal
immune systems. Usually, the symptoms
last from seven to 10 days and the patient
recovers completely.
Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand,
can be very serious and result in disability
or death if not treated promptly.
Often, the symptoms of viral meningitis
and bacterial meningitis are the same. For
this reason, if you think you or your child
has meningitis, see your doctor as soon
as possible.
The following information has been provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Click Here for tips on how you can have a safer, healthier home.
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Meningitis is an illness in which there is inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Viral or "aseptic" meningitis, which is the most common type, is caused by an infection with one of several types of viruses. Meningitis can also be caused by infections with several types of bacteria or fungi.
In the United States, there are between 25,000 and 50,000 hospitalizations due to viral meningitis each year. |
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Many different viruses can cause meningitis. About 90 percent of cases of viral meningitis are caused by members of a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, such as coxsackieviruses and echoviruses. These viruses are more common during summer and fall months.
Herpesviruses and the mumps virus can also cause viral meningitis. |
| No specific treatment for viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients completely recover on their own. Doctors often will recommend bed rest and plenty of fluids, as well as medicine to relieve fever and headache. |
The viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are very common during the summer and early fall, and many people are exposed to them.
Most infected persons either have no symptoms, however, or develop only a cold or rash with low-grade fever. Only a small proportion of infected persons actually develop meningitis. Therefore, if you are around someone who has viral meningitis, you have a moderate chance of becoming infected, but a very small chance of developing meningitis. |
Because most persons who are infected with enteroviruses do not become sick, it can be difficult to prevent the spread of the virus. Adhering to good personal hygiene, however, can help to reduce your chances of becoming infected.
If you are in contact with someone who has viral meningitis, the most effective method of prevention is to wash your hands thoroughly and often.
Also, cleaning contaminated surfaces and soiled articles first with soap and water, and then disinfecting surfaces and soiled articles first with soap and water, and then disinfecting them with a dilute solution of chlorinecontaining bleach (made by mixing approximately ¼ cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water) can be a very effective way to inactivate the virus. |
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The more common symptoms of meningitis are fever, severe headache, stiff neck, bright lights hurting the eyes, drowsiness or confusion, and nausea and vomiting.
In babies, the symptoms are more difficult to identify. They may include fever, fretfulness or irritability, difficulty in awakening the baby, or the baby refuses to eat.
The symptoms of meningitis may not be the same for every person. |
| Viral meningitis is usually diagnosed by laboratory tests of spinal fluid obtained with a spinal tap. The specific cause of viral meningitis can be determined by tests that identify the virus in specimens collected from the patient, but these tests are rarely done. |
Enteroviruses, the most common cause of viral meningitis, are most often spread through direct contact with the respiratory secretions - such as saliva, sputum or nasal mucus - of an infected person.
This usually happens by shaking hands with an infected person or by touching something they have handled and then rubbing your own nose or mouth. The virus can also be found in the stool of persons who are infected. The virus is spread through this route mainly among small children who are not yet toilet trained. It can also be spread this way to adults changing the diapers of an infected infant.
The incubation period for enteroviruses is usually between three and seven days from the time you are infected until you develop symptoms. You can usually spread the virus to someone else beginning about three days after you are infected until about 10 days after you develop symptoms. |
Meningococcal vaccines cannot prevent all types of the disease. But they do protect many people who might become sick if they didn't get the vaccine. Check with your physician to see if the vaccine is recommended for you, or for other members of your family.
Although large epidemics of meningococcal meningitis do not occur in the United States, some countries experience large, periodic epidemics.
Overseas travelers should check to see if meningococcal vaccine is recommended for their destination. Travelers should receive the vaccine at least 1 week before departure, if possible.
Information on areas for which meningococcal vaccine is recommended can be obtained by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (404)- 332-4565. |
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