Viral meningitis (patient information): Difference between revisions
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{{Aseptic meningitis (patient information)}} | {{Aseptic meningitis (patient information)}} | ||
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[ | '''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Viral meningitis|here]].''' | ||
{{CMG}} | {{CMG}} | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Aseptic meningitis is an illness that appears similar to bacterial meningitis. However, bacteria do not grow in cultures of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). This may occur because there are no bacteria, or because the bacteria are difficult to grow. | Aseptic meningitis is an illness that appears similar to bacterial meningitis. However, bacteria do not grow in cultures of the fluid around the [[brain]] and [[spinal cord]] (cerebrospinal fluid). This may occur because there are no [[bacteria]], or because the bacteria are difficult to grow. | ||
==What are the symptoms?== | ==What are the symptoms?== | ||
* Abdominal pain | * [[Abdominal pain]] | ||
* Abnormal sensitivity to light (photophobia) | * Abnormal sensitivity to light (photophobia) | ||
* Chills | * [[Chills]] | ||
* Confusion | * [[Confusion]] | ||
* Drowsiness | * [[Drowsiness]] | ||
* Fever | * [[Fever]] | ||
* General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) | * General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) | ||
* Headache | * [[Headache]] | ||
* Muscle pain | * [[Muscle pain]] | ||
* Nausea and vomiting | * [[Nausea]] and [[vomiting]] | ||
* Rash | * [[Rash]] | ||
* Sore throat | * [[Sore throat]] | ||
* Stiff neck | * Stiff neck | ||
==What are the causes?== | ==What are the causes?== | ||
There are many causes of aseptic meningitis, including: | There are many causes of aseptic meningitis, including: | ||
* Cancer (causes a syndrome similar to meningitis) | * [[Cancer]] (causes a syndrome similar to meningitis) | ||
* Infections near the brain or spinal cord, such as epidural abscesses | * Infections near the brain or spinal cord, such as epidural abscesses | ||
* Fungi | * [[Fungi]] | ||
* Medications (cause a syndrome similar to meningitis) | * [[Medications]] (cause a syndrome similar to meningitis) | ||
* Mycobacteria (nontuberculous) | * [[Mycobacteria]] (nontuberculous) | ||
* Syphilis | * [[Syphilis]] | ||
* Tick-borne diseases (such as Lyme disease) | * Tick-borne diseases (such as [[Lyme disease]]) | ||
* Tuberculosis | * [[Tuberculosis]] | ||
* Viruses | * [[Viruses]] | ||
About half of aseptic meningitis cases are caused by coxsackie virus or echovirus, two members of the enterovirus family. The rate of enteroviral infections increases in the summer and early fall. Enteroviruses are spread by hand-to-mouth contact and coughing. They also may be spread by contact with fecal matter. | About half of aseptic meningitis cases are caused by coxsackie virus or echovirus, two members of the enterovirus family. The rate of enteroviral infections increases in the summer and early fall. Enteroviruses are spread by hand-to-mouth contact and coughing. They also may be spread by contact with fecal matter. | ||
Other viruses that cause this condition include: | Other viruses that cause this condition include: | ||
* Chickenpox (varicella virus) | * [[Chickenpox]] (varicella virus) | ||
* Other enteroviruses | * Other enteroviruses | ||
* Herpes simplex viruses, usually type 2 | * Herpes simplex viruses, usually type 2 | ||
* HIV (especially acute HIV syndrome) | * [[HIV]] (especially acute HIV syndrome) | ||
* Mumps | * [[Mumps]] | ||
* Rabies virus | * [[Rabies]] virus | ||
* West Nile virus | * [[West Nile virus]] | ||
Risk factors for aseptic meningitis include: | Risk factors for aseptic meningitis include: | ||
* Being a health care worker | * Being a health care worker | ||
* Having a weakened immune system | * Having a weakened [[immune system]] | ||
* Exposure to children in a day care setting | * Exposure to children in a day care setting | ||
* Exposure to someone with a recent viral infection | * Exposure to someone with a recent viral infection | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
| Line 57: | Line 55: | ||
Physical examination may show: | Physical examination may show: | ||
* Fast heart rate | * Fast heart rate | ||
* Fever | * [[Fever]] | ||
* Stiff neck | * [[Stiff neck]] | ||
For any patient who is suspected of having meningitis, it is important to perform a lumbar puncture ("spinal tap"), in which spinal fluid (known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) is collected for testing. | For any patient who is suspected of having meningitis, it is important to perform a lumbar puncture ("spinal tap"), in which spinal fluid (known as [[cerebrospinal fluid]], or CSF) is collected for testing. | ||
Tests that may be done include: | Tests that may be done include: | ||
* Blood culture | * Blood culture | ||
* Chest x-ray | * [[Chest x-ray]] | ||
* CSF examination for cell count, glucose, and protein | * CSF examination for cell count, glucose, and protein | ||
* CT scan of the head | * [[CT]] scan of the head | ||
* Gram stain, other special stains, and culture of CSF | * Gram stain, other special stains, and culture of CSF | ||
* Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of CSF | * Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of CSF | ||
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Treatment is needed for fungal or mycobacterial causes of aseptic meningitis. Herpesvirus or varicella (chickenpox) virus may be treated with antiviral medicines. Treatment for noninfectious causes consists of pain medications and managing complications, if they occur. No specific treatment is available for enteroviral or most other viral forms of aseptic meningitis. | Treatment is needed for fungal or mycobacterial causes of aseptic meningitis. Herpesvirus or varicella (chickenpox) virus may be treated with antiviral medicines. Treatment for noninfectious causes consists of pain medications and managing complications, if they occur. No specific treatment is available for enteroviral or most other viral forms of aseptic meningitis. | ||
==Where to find medical care for Aseptic meningitis?== | |||
==Where to find medical care for | |||
[http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Condition}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Condition] | [http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Condition}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Condition] | ||
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An infection of the brain (encephalitis) may develop, though this is rare. The infection may last much longer in a person with a weakened immune system. | An infection of the brain (encephalitis) may develop, though this is rare. The infection may last much longer in a person with a weakened immune system. | ||
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[[Category:Emergency medicine | [[Category:Emergency medicine]] | ||
[[Category:Neurology]] | |||
[[Category:Neurology | [[Category:Pediatrics]] | ||
[[Category:Pediatrics | |||
[[Category:Patient information]] | [[Category:Patient information]] | ||
[[Category:Overview complete]] | [[Category:Overview complete]] | ||
[[Category:Emergency mdicine]] | |||
[[Category:Disease]] | |||
[[Category:Up-To-Date]] | |||
[[Category:Infectious disease]] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:41, 30 July 2020
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Aseptic meningitis |
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Aseptic meningitis On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Aseptic meningitis is an illness that appears similar to bacterial meningitis. However, bacteria do not grow in cultures of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). This may occur because there are no bacteria, or because the bacteria are difficult to grow.
What are the symptoms?
- Abdominal pain
- Abnormal sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Chills
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Fever
- General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rash
- Sore throat
- Stiff neck
What are the causes?
There are many causes of aseptic meningitis, including:
- Cancer (causes a syndrome similar to meningitis)
- Infections near the brain or spinal cord, such as epidural abscesses
- Fungi
- Medications (cause a syndrome similar to meningitis)
- Mycobacteria (nontuberculous)
- Syphilis
- Tick-borne diseases (such as Lyme disease)
- Tuberculosis
- Viruses
About half of aseptic meningitis cases are caused by coxsackie virus or echovirus, two members of the enterovirus family. The rate of enteroviral infections increases in the summer and early fall. Enteroviruses are spread by hand-to-mouth contact and coughing. They also may be spread by contact with fecal matter. Other viruses that cause this condition include:
- Chickenpox (varicella virus)
- Other enteroviruses
- Herpes simplex viruses, usually type 2
- HIV (especially acute HIV syndrome)
- Mumps
- Rabies virus
- West Nile virus
Risk factors for aseptic meningitis include:
- Being a health care worker
- Having a weakened immune system
- Exposure to children in a day care setting
- Exposure to someone with a recent viral infection
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of aseptic meningitis.
Diagnosis
Physical examination may show:
- Fast heart rate
- Fever
- Stiff neck
For any patient who is suspected of having meningitis, it is important to perform a lumbar puncture ("spinal tap"), in which spinal fluid (known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) is collected for testing. Tests that may be done include:
- Blood culture
- Chest x-ray
- CSF examination for cell count, glucose, and protein
- CT scan of the head
- Gram stain, other special stains, and culture of CSF
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of CSF
Treatment options
Treatment is needed for fungal or mycobacterial causes of aseptic meningitis. Herpesvirus or varicella (chickenpox) virus may be treated with antiviral medicines. Treatment for noninfectious causes consists of pain medications and managing complications, if they occur. No specific treatment is available for enteroviral or most other viral forms of aseptic meningitis.
Where to find medical care for Aseptic meningitis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Condition
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Unlike other forms of meningitis, aseptic meningitis caused by a virus is usually a harmless disease. Less than 1% of patients have lasting symptoms. People usually recover fully 5 - 14 days after symptoms start. Fatigue and lightheadedness may last longer in some people.
Possible complications
An infection of the brain (encephalitis) may develop, though this is rare. The infection may last much longer in a person with a weakened immune system.