Viral Meningitis: Causes, Who Is at Risk, Prevention and Recovery

Meningitis is inflammation (swelling) of the protective lining around the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis — caused by a viral infection — is the most common kind. Most people recover on their own without treatment, but it can be very serious.

The mumps virus. Image from CDC's page on viral meningitis

The viruses behind it

Many viruses can cause it. The leading causes in the United States:

Get care right away

Anyone with symptoms of meningitis should see a health care provider immediately. The provider can tell whether it is meningitis, what's causing it and how best to treat it.

Who is at higher risk

Anyone can get viral meningitis, but risk is higher for:

• children under 5;
• babies under 1 month, who are the most likely to become severely ill;
• people with a weakened immune system — from disease, from medicines such as chemotherapy, or after a recent organ or bone marrow transplant — who are also more likely to become severely ill.

Close contacts of someone with viral meningitis may catch the virus, but they're unlikely to develop meningitis.

Prevention

Everyday habits

• Wash your hands often, especially after changing diapers or using the toilet.
• Avoid close contact — touching, shaking hands — with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Stay home when sick, and keep sick children out of school.

Vaccines protect against some diseases that can lead to viral meningitis: chickenpox, influenza, measles and mumps, and shingles vaccines. See vaccine schedules for you and your family.

Other precautions

• Avoid bites from mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects.
• Avoid wild mice, and take care handling pet rodents such as mice, hamsters and guinea pigs.

Diagnosis and treatment

There are laboratory tests for meningitis.

• Usually there's no specific treatment. Most people with mild viral meningitis get better on their own in 7 to 10 days.
• People who are, or may become, severely ill may need hospital care.
• Antiviral medicine may help when the cause is a virus such as herpesvirus or influenza.

Sources

Based on "About Viral Meningitis," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.