Viral meningitis fact sheet prevention and health promotion. These viruses infect the meninges, or the covering of the brain and spinal cord, causing meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is very serious because its onset is rapid and the infection is associated with a significant risk of death. Jan 05, 2008 viral meningitis is a notifiable disease in england and wales, but many cases undoubtedly go unreported. Its typically mild and goes away without treatment.
Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the membrane covering the brain. Practice guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patients in making decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. Meningitis is a serious infection of the meninges in the brain or spinal cord that is most commonly viral or bacterial in origin, although fungal, parasitic, and noninfectious causes are also possible. A variety of organisms including different bacteria, fungi or viruses, can cause meningitis. Meningitis knowledge for medical students and physicians. Meningococcal meningitis, a bacterial form of meningitis, is a serious infection of the meninges that affects the brain membrane. Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis. What is the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis.
Incidence, aetiology, and sequelae of viral meningitis in uk adults. Reported viral meningitis cases and rates per 100,000 by age group, race ethnicity, and spa. Viral meningitis epidemiology lab diagnosis test spinal fluid to differentiate between viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis viral agents may be isolated in early stages from throat washings, stool, csf, and blood by tissue culture techniques or animal inoculation. Viral meningitis also called aseptic meningitis is the most common type of infectious meningitis. When hes there, hell get fluids through an iv to prevent dehydration, as well. Viral vs bacterial meningitis middlesexlondon health unit. Viral vs bacterial meningitis fact sheet pdf 80kb view, download and print the viral vs bacterial meningitis fact sheet. It can be treated with appropriate antibiotics that also prevents spread. Communityacquired bacterial meningitis inflammation of the meninges is most commonly caused by streptococcus pneumoniae or neisseria meningitidis. When hes there, hell get fluids through an iv to prevent dehydration, as well as painkillers. Most individuals are exposed to these viruses at some point in their lives, but few people get viral meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord meninges. It is often less severe than bacterial meningitis, and most people get better on their own without treatment. Bacterial meningitis is a more serious form of the disorder.
Viral meningitis, also known as aseptic meningitis, is a type of meningitis due to a viral infection. In the past decades the epidemiology and treatment strategies for communityacquired bacterial meningitis have significantly changed. Laboratories have reported confirmed cases by detection of viral nucleic acid in cerebrospinal fluid since 2004. Meningitis and vaccination factsheet confederation of meningitis. Viral meningitis nonbacterial meningitis fact sheet. Meningitis can be caused by infection from viruses and bacteria germs. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of bacterial meningitis, the frequency of each pathogen, and its sensitivity to antibiotics and risk factors for death. Because of its flulike symptoms, many people mistake it for the flu.
Viral meningitis is a virusborne inflammation of the meninges, which are the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is usually much less severe than other types. Diagnosis, initial management, and prevention of meningitis. Distinguish bacterial, viral, tuberculous, and fungal meningitis based on clinical presentation and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Meningitis means inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Pending results of csf cultures and virologic studies, the results of the initial evaluation can be used to make a provisional diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, or unclear etiology. Hawaii state department of health disease investigation branch. Your teen may need only a few days in the hospital. With treatment, mortality risk of death from bacterial meningitis depends on the age of the person and the underlying cause. Aseptic meningitis an overview sciencedirect topics. Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges covering the brain. Viral names the causative agent, and the term meningitis implies lack of parenchymal and spinal cord involvement otherwise called encephalitis and myelitis, respectively. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated.
Viral meningitis aseptic meningitis, nonbacterial meningitis what is viral meningitis. Viral encephalitis is inflammation or swelling of the brain caused by a viral infection. Symptoms of viral encephalitis include headache, fever, stiff neck, seizures, changes in. It results in inflammation of the meninges the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Recognize the common acute complications of meningitis.
Most patients do not need brain imaging before lumbar puncture. In general, meningitis caused by a virus is less serious than meningitis caused by bacteria. Clinical features and diagnosis in children, section on diagnosis. The symptoms of viral meningitis may include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, or vomiting. Bacterial or viral meningitis is confirmed by the detection of a pathogen in the csf.
Meningitis, viral page 97 acute communicable disease control 2016 annual morbidity report meningitis, viral acases per 100,000 population description viruses are the major cause of aseptic meningitis syndrome, a term used to define any meningitis infectious or noninfectious. Symptoms appear suddenly, last for 5 to 7 days, resolve spontaneously, but recur days or years later. In previous studies, viral meningitis in adults was rather associated with herpes simplex and west nile virus, whereas children were more likely. Antibiotics cant treat viral meningitis and, in most cases, the infection goes away on its own with time. It usually affects people more during the summer and fall. Meningitis is a swelling covering of the brain and spinal cord. These germs usually cause everyday illness, such as an ear infection or pneumonia. Infection of the fluid in the spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain viral or bacterial etiology is important because of the seriousness of the illness and the treatment needed viral meningitis usually clears up in a week or two with no specific treatment common.
Its far less severe than bacterial meningitis, and generally only produces mild symptoms, such as headache, nausea, brightlight sensitivity, and lethargy. A rare form of aseptic meningitis, idiopathic recurrent meningitis, also known as mollaret meningitis mm after the man who first described the disease in 1944, is characterized by recurring attacks of fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Nov 29, 2019 aseptic meningitis epidemics may pose various health care challenges. Viral meningitis epidemiology virginia department of health. Viral meningitis is usually less serious and goes away without treatment. First, the introduction of conjugate vaccines in europe resulted in the virtual disappearance of.
Viral infections are responsible for about 90% of the cases of acute meningitis redington and tyler 2002. Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis, an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Viruses that cause stomach flu are a cause of viral meningitis, but. A total of 72 enterovirus evpositive meningitis cases were detected in. A clinical librarian and a research fellow at the chairs institute were appointed to perform the literature searches for each question.
Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges the covering of the brain and spinal cord caused by infection with a virus. Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis in the uk, but bacterial meningitis continues to be important, with a high mortality. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges the covering of the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis can also be a complication of mumps, chickenpox, or other viral diseases.
Salud publica meningitis viral salud publica hoja informativa. Viral meningitis is an infection of the tissues covering the brain caused by one of several types of viruses. Viral meningitis, in contrast, tends to resolve spontaneously and is rarely fatal. Viral meningitis frequently asked questions what is viral meningitis. Clinical features are poor discriminators for meningitis, so urgent investigations, starting with lumbar puncture, are key. Jun 14, 2016 there are important differences between viral, fungal, and bacterial meningitis, in terms of their severity, how common they are, and the way they are treated. Viral meningitis is an infection caused by viruses and bacterial meningitis is an infection caused by bacteria. This is particularly true for one with a cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytic. Viral meningitis is a virusborne inflammation of the meninges, which are the. Underreporting of viral encephalitis and viral meningitis. Meningitis is a potentially deadly inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by a virus. This includes rest, fluids, and feverreducing medicine.
Meningitis any inflammation of protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord can be caused by different types of bacteria or viruses meningococcal disease an infection that can lead to meningitis or sepsis blood infection caused by a specific bacteria neisseria meningitidis bacterial meningitis is different than viral meningitis. Viral meningitis is an infection of the meninges a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord by any one of a number of different viruses. We describe the german enterovirus meningitis epidemics in the university hospital centers of dusseldorf, cologne and berlin between january 1st and december 31st, 20 in order to scrutinize clinical differences from other aseptic meningitis cases. Viral meningitis is inflammation of the leptomeninges as a manifestation of central nervous system cns infection. The number of reports of viral meningitis and encephalitis in england and wales was seven times higher in 20 than in 2004. Jul 17, 2018 viral meningitis is inflammation of the leptomeninges as a manifestation of central nervous system cns infection. Viral meningitis is more common in the summer and early fall. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Most cases of viral meningitis respond to supportive treatment and resolve within 710 days. Untreated, bacterial meningitis is almost always fatal. Viral encephalitis ve and viral meningitis vm have been notifiable infectious diseases under surveillance in the republic of ireland since 1981. Viral meningitis is the most common and least severe type.
In general, there are no medications to fight the germs that cause viral meningitis, so treatment is usually aimed at easing the symptoms. Viral meningitis is seen most often in children and young adults, but anyone can get viral meningitis. It is usually a mild illness, and most people with viral meningitis recover fully. Viral aseptic meningitis is the most common form of meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease of the membranes lining the brain resulting in a high mortality and morbidity throughout the world. The cerebrospinal fluid csf typically exhibits an elevated number of leucocytes or a pleocytosis. Viral meningitis is most often caused by enteroviruses during the summer months however it can also be caused by mumps, the herpesvirus, and some viruses spread by mosquitoes arboviruses. This retrospective study was conducted at hamad general hospital between january 1, 2009, and december 31, 20. Describe key management issues for a child who has bacterial meningitis. Vsu student health center nursing staff what is meningitis.
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