Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is an acute, infectious disease caused by the inflammation of the meninges(lining) of the brain and spinal cord.
CAUSES OF VIRAL MENINGITIS
Coxsackie virus and echovirus, which belong to the family of enteroviruses, are responsible for about 50% of the cases of viral (aseptic) meningitis. Viral infections are most common in the summer and early fall. Viral meningitis is caused by various viruses, many of which are associated with other diseases. About 50% of the cases are caused by common intestinal viruses while, sometimes, children with mumps or herpes virus infection also develop viral meningitis. Mosquito-borne viruses are another cause of viral meningitis and many cases are found annually.Chicken pox can also cause aseptic meningitis while the rabies virus causes inflammation of both the brain and meninges. In acute HIV syndrome, the HIV can attack meninges and result in aseptic meningitis though in many cases, a specific virus cannot be identified.
Viral Meningitis
The West Nile virus was the cause of the viral meningitis epidemic that raged across the United States. Usually, West Nile virus is a self-limited meningitis but it has been seen to lead to some critical illnesses, such as encephalitis or a paralysis identical to that seen in polio.
OCCURENCE
The enterovirus affects males 11 times more than females while the virus of mumps affects males about 3 times more than females. New born babies, older than a week are at higher risk of having viral meningitis. Vaccination has largely weakened the incidence of viral meningitis caused by mumps, polio, rubella and measles viruses.
INCUBATION PERIOD
The incubation period is variable which depends upon the type of virus affected.The most common virus ,Enterovirus, has an incubation period of 3-6 days.
SPREAD OF INFECTION
Viral meningitis is not primarily contagious. Spread of infection is mainly from an infected person through sputum and nasal discharge. Enteroviral meningitis is also spread by contact with fecal matter. Mumps virus mainly spread by contact with secretions from the mouth and throat, with increased incidence in the spring season.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Main symptoms of viral meningitis are fever, headache, malaise, pain in the abdomen, stiffness of neck is less marked and tiredness. Red rashes, though rare, are sometimes seen after 2 days while sore throat and vomiting are also sometimes present.
TREATMENT OF VIRAL MENINGITIS
Viruses are immune to antibiotics. There is no particular treatment available for enteroviral aseptic meningitis. Mild viral meningitis infection is self- limited with symptoms staying for a week to 10 days. Patients with mild cases, often show flu-like symptoms and are treated with appropriate fluids, bed rest, quiet and are given analgesics for pain and fever. Patients with serious infections may require hospitalization and supportive care, till the symptoms recede. In serious cases, predominantly in the case of young children or new-borns, antiviral drugs like acyclovir can be recommended by the physician. In cases where children show convulsions, phenytoin is given to retard seizures.
PREVENTION
If one follows the Immunization schedule recommended by WHO, the risk of developing an infections reduces.
