Viral meningitis history and symptoms

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Meningitis main page

Viral meningitis Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Viral meningitis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

CT

MRI

Ultrasound

Xray

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Viral meningitis history and symptoms On the Web

Most recent articles

cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Viral meningitis history and symptoms

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Viral meningitis history and symptoms

CDC onViral meningitis history and symptoms

Viral meningitis history and symptoms in the news

Blogs on Viral meningitis history and symptoms

Viral meningitis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Viral meningitis history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Viral meningitis symptoms are varied, depending on the causative organism. The symptoms of viral meningitis usually last from 7 to 10 days, and people with normal immune systems usually recover completely. A rash may be present, which could suggest a particular virus - for example, varicella zoster. However, a non-blanching purpuric rash is not associated with meningitis and suggests systemic bacterial infection. 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, irritability, difficulty in awakening the baby, or the baby refuses to eat. The symptoms of meningitis may not be the same for every person.

History and symptoms

Viral meningitis symptoms are varied, depending on the causative organism. The symptoms of viral meningitis usually last from 7 to 10 days, and people with normal immune systems usually recover completely. A rash may be present, which could suggest a particular virus e.g. varicella zoster. However, a non-blanching purpuric rash is not associated with meningitis and suggests systemic bacterial infection. 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, irritability, difficulty in awakening the baby, or the baby refuses to eat. The symptoms of meningitis may not be the same for every person.

Common symptoms

Common Symptoms in Infants

Common Symptoms in Adults

Pathogen specific symptoms

  • Herpes viruses:
    • Viral meningitis caused by the herpes viruses has the general symptoms of the disease but it can only be presented with just fever.
    • Skin rash can be seen in case of infection with varicella zoster virus.
    • Genitourinary lesions like the ulcers may be noticed in case of herpes simplex type 2 infection.
  • Arboviruses:
    • They mostly cause encephalitis which has similar symptoms to the viral meningitis.
  • Parechoviruses:[3]
    • Infection of the central nervous by parechoviruses causes meningitis and encephalitis.
    • In severe cases, parechoviruses may lead to neonatal sepsis as well as paralysis.
    • There is no specific neuronal symptoms for the parechoviruses. Irritability and fever are common symptoms for the parechoviral meningitis.
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus:[4]
    • Patients infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus usually develop encephalitis, but there is a small chance to develop viral meningitis.
    • A little percentage of the patients with lymphocytic choriomeningitis viral meningitis who present with neuronal symptoms and may be asymptomatic.

Reference

  1. Wilfert CM, Lehrman SN, Katz SL (1983). "Enteroviruses and meningitis". Pediatr Infect Dis. 2 (4): 333–41. PMID 6310537.
  2. Chang LY, Huang LM, Gau SS, Wu YY, Hsia SH, Fan TY; et al. (2007). "Neurodevelopment and cognition in children after enterovirus 71 infection". N Engl J Med. 356 (12): 1226–34. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa065954. PMID 17377160.
  3. Selvarangan R, Nzabi M, Selvaraju SB, Ketter P, Carpenter C, Harrison CJ (2011). "Human parechovirus 3 causing sepsis-like illness in children from midwestern United States". Pediatr Infect Dis J. 30 (3): 238–42. doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3181fbefc8. PMID 20948454.
  4. Rotbart HA (2000). "Viral meningitis". Semin Neurol. 20 (3): 277–92. doi:10.1055/s-2000-9427. PMID 11051293.