Despite the prevailing opinion on the Internet that viral meningitis is a relatively mild disease, it does not require special treatment, that is, it goes away by itself, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this disease is just as deadly as its bacterial counterpart. It all depends on what kind of virus caused meningitis, what was the state of the body at the time of the disease, what level of blood supply to the blood vessels of the brain. Therefore, the symptoms of viral meningitis (as well as bacterial) merit attention.
How does viral meningitis start?In most cases, at the onset of the disease, catarrhal phenomena (runny nose, cough) occur, body temperature can increase. If an enterovirus from the Coxsackie group or ECHO entered the body, then the first symptoms may be a mild runny nose, a feeling of discomfort when swallowing, and also diarrhea. The temperature in this case is often elevated. The initial ingestion of the herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus can be complicated by meningitis, and then the preceding obvious symptoms can be malaise, weakness, sore throat, the appearance on the skin of characteristic vesicles with light contents. The same symptoms can occur when these viruses are activated, which were already in the human body before.
Meningitis can complicate the course of such infections as measles, mumps, chicken pox, diseases from the ARVI group, and rubella. Then the symptoms of this disease will immediately be preceded by: a characteristic rash, weakness, fever (optional), conjunctivitis, and all those signs by which doctors diagnose measles, rubella, and so on.
Symptoms of Viral Meningitis
Against the background of the above signs, the body temperature rises, a severe headache appears. It does not have a clear localization or is more disturbing in the forehead and temples; it becomes worse when turning the head, changing the position of the body.
In addition to headache, nausea and / or vomiting are usually observed, occurring regardless of the meal. Symptoms of viral meningitis often include photophobia, increased headache with loud noises (while the temperature is elevated, there was no head injury, a person does not suffer from hypertension); any touch to the skin feels more intense than it actually is. There may be dizziness, double vision.
Viral meningitis in children has the same symptoms as in adults. The child tries to lie all the time, throws back his head, refuses food. Seizures against a background of not very high body temperature in a child can also indicate the development of this disease.
Meningitis caused by herpes simplex viruses, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus develops quickly: after a minor ailment with other symptoms or without them, the temperature rises sharply, which is very difficult to bring down, a severe headache. Oppression of consciousness appears very soon: a person is either difficult to wake up, or he behaves as if under the influence of alcohol, or at first he is rather excited, disoriented, then he tries to lie more and more.
Herpetic meningitis often occurs with
convulsive syndrome: repeated cramps in all limbs, with impaired consciousness, almost always lead to respiratory arrest and require resuscitation.
In a number of cases (except for those when the disease developed as a complication of one of the "childhood" infections), when the symptoms of viral meningitis fit the ones described above, an accurate diagnosis can only be established by lumbar puncture. It is quite difficult to find out which virus caused the disease, since analyzes of this type are done for a long time. Only viruses of the herpetic group can be determined by PCR diagnostics for a day or three, so that, in addition to Acyclovir (Zovirax, Virolex), specific immunoglobulin can also be prescribed.
Viral meningitis: prevention
From this disease can not be protected 100%, as well as from any viral infection. All you can do is lead a healthy lifestyle (including hardening), because if a virus that can cause meningitis enters the body does not mean that the disease will develop - it all depends on the immune response. In addition, you need to follow the rules of basic hygiene: wash your hands before eating, drink boiled water, do not communicate with people who have signs of a viral disease. During the period of active rashes of herpes, a sick person should smear them with “Acyclovir” and during this period try not to contact members of his family without a mask, not to eat with them from common dishes, and not to use shared towels.
If you or your child interacted with a person who subsequently was diagnosed with viral meningitis, do not panic: you are not likely to develop meningitis with a 98% chance, but it’s quite possible to “get” a cough or runny nose.