Viral meningitis: Diagnosis and treatment

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist, Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital
Viral meningitis is the most common cause of meningitis. Other causes of viral meningitis include bacteria, fungi, parasites, and drug-related things.

1. What is viral meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the thin membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is the most common cause. Some other causes of meningitis include: bacterial, fungal, parasitic meningitis and drug side effects.
In people with strong immune systems, viral meningitis is less often fatal. The course of treatment for meningitis lasts 7-10 days. Infants, children under 1 year of age, and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible. The symptoms of bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis are often the same, so patients need to go to medical facilities for an accurate diagnosis.

2. Signs of viral meningitis

Symptoms of viral meningitis often come on suddenly or flare up after a few days. Early signs include: Headache, fever, stiff neck, neck pain, vomiting and nausea, rash. Many people do not know “what is meningitis? ” leads to misdiagnosing symptoms of the disease with other diseases, making the condition more serious. More severe symptoms of later-stage viral meningitis include: behavioral changes, drowsiness, difficulty waking, and fatigue. In infants, the symptoms vary, in some cases, the child has signs of irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite. In children, some exceptions will not have a fever.
Meningitis symptoms can be distinguished in different subjects as follows:
Signs of viral encephalitis in children are as follows:
Children have prolonged fever. Frequently irritable, irritable. Poor eating and sucking Sleep lethargic, difficult to wake up. Signs of viral meningitis in adults :
High fever Severe headache Stiffness in the neck and shoulders Sensitivity to light Drowsiness or difficulty in waking Not wanting to eat or drink

3. Diagnosis of viral meningitis

How long to treat meningitis depends on early and accurate diagnosis. Usually, viral meningitis is diagnosed by testing the patient's cerebrospinal fluid. A test of the cerebrospinal fluid may reveal that the patient has meningitis due to a viral or bacterial infection. However, it is difficult to accurately identify the virus that causes meningitis.
Once the results of the cerebrospinal fluid test are available, the doctor will make a decision whether to be hospitalized or treat meningitis at home. In some severe cases or those with weakened immune systems, hospitalization is necessary.

4. How is viral meningitis treated?

Currently, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Most patients recover completely within 2 weeks of treatment for meningitis. Patients also do not need to use antibiotics to treat the disease because antibiotics are not effective in treating viruses.
To treat encephalitis, the doctor will instruct the patient to rest in bed, drink enough fluids, take medicine to relieve pain and reduce fever. Patients with weakened immune systems or severe illness may require hospitalization.

5. Prevention of viral meningitis

Currently in Vietnam there is a vaccine to prevent meningitis caused by pneumococcal, meningococcal and Hib. You can contact hospitals and medical facilities across the country to be fully vaccinated.
The meningococcal vaccination schedule is as follows:
Meningococcal AC vaccine helps prevent meningococcal disease caused by meningococcal bacteria types A and C:
Children 2 years of age and older have Meningococcal AC vaccine can be administered. Children over 6 months old who have been in contact with an infected person can also be vaccinated. Get a booster shot every 3-5 years. Meningococcal BC vaccine helps prevent meningococcal disease caused by meningococcal types B and C bacteria. The vaccine is called VA-MENGOC-BC.
Indicated for Children from 6 months and older - adults under 45 years old. Each child needs 2 injections, the 2nd dose is about 6-8 weeks apart from the 1st. For the prevention of meningitis. People who have been in close contact with someone with viral encephalitis may need preventive antibiotic treatment. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Not sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils with others also helps prevent the spread of germs.
Viral meningitis is a benign disease that can be cured after 7-10 days, treated at home without leaving complications. However, in case of severe disease, it is necessary to take the patient to the nearest medical facility for timely treatment of meningitis.

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