MENINGITIS: SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

 Fever and/or Vomiting. Septicaemia, ...

 Severe headache. Meningitis.
 Limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes with stomach pain/diarrhoea)
Septicaemia.
 Cold hand and feet/shivering. Septicaemia.
 Pale or mottled skin. Septicaemia.
 Breathing fast/breathless. Septicaemia.
 Rash (anywhere on the body) ...
 Stiff neck (less common in young children)

Viral meningitis is contagious, because the viruses that cause the disease are
generally easily passed between people. Enteroviruses are present in the feces,
mucus, and saliva of infected people, and are transmitted through direct contact
with an infected person or surface

Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears on its own. Most cases in the
United States are caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, which are
most common in late summer and early fall. Viruses such as herpes simplex virus,
HIV, mumps, West Nile virus and others also can cause viral meningitis.Dec 23,
2017

Meningitis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Viral meningitis is a virus-borne inflammation of the protective membranes

surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). It's far less severe than
bacterial meningitis, and generally only produces mild symptoms such as
headache, nausea, bright-light sensitivity, and lethargy.Apr 13, 2015
Meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours - know the symptoms. The first
symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell. Limb pain,
pale skin, and cold hands and feet often appear earlier than the rash, neck
stiffness, dislike of bright lights and confusion.

How serious is viral meningitis?

Most people with viral meningitis usually get better on their own within 7 to 10
days. Initial symptoms of viral meningitis are similar to those for bacterial
meningitis. However, bacterial meningitis is usually severe and can cause serious
complications, such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities.
Jun 15, 2016

Incubation Period
The incubation period is usually between 3 and 7 days from the time you are
infected until you develop symptoms. You can usually spread the virus to
someone else beginning about 3 days after you are infected until about 10 days
after you develop symptoms.
Viral meningitis – the facts

 Thousands of cases occur every year. Anyone can get viral meningitis but it
is most common in babies and young children
 The symptoms of viral meningitis can be very similar to those of bacterial
meningitis, so it is essential to seek urgent medical help if concerned
 Many different viruses can cause meningitis; enteroviruses are the most
common cause
 Viral meningitis is not generally considered to be contagious; contact with
someone who has the illness does not usually increase the risk of disease to
others. Linked cases of viral meningitis are extremely unusual and almost all
cases occur alone
 There is no specific treatment for most cases of viral meningitis. Patients
need to be hydrated with fluids, given painkillers and allowed to rest in
order to recover. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. However, in
some instances, antibiotics may be started on admission to hospital
because the cause of meningitis is not known. Antibiotics are usually
discontinued once viral meningitis is diagnosed.
 Although most people will make a full recovery, the recovery process can
be slow. Some can be left with serious and life-changing after-effects
 After-effects can include headaches, exhaustion and memory loss
 Although there aren’t vaccines to prevent most cases of viral meningitis,
the MMR vaccine, which is given as part of the UK routine immunisation
schedule, protects against measles, mumps and rubella viral infections.
Prior to the use of this vaccine, mumps was a common cause of viral
meningitis in children

For the full facts, download our free viral meningitis fact sheet. A guide for
employers and a guide for health professionals information sheets are also
available.

True impact of viral meningitis

Many people who have experienced viral meningitis feel that they are dismissed
as having the ‘milder’ form of meningitis and that very little is understood about
the recovery and after-effects. In response, we carried out a survey, with over 450
viral meningitis sufferers responding. The results (attached to the viral meningitis
fact sheet) show the real impact viral meningitis can have.
Being vocal about viral

The survey findings are helping us raise the profile of this type of meningitis and
inform health professionals, schools, employers, family and friends of the
potential long-term effects that sufferers can face. Our annual Viral Meningitis
Week aims to keep viral meningitis and its true impact high on the public agenda.

DIAGNOSIS

Viral meningitis is more likely when the symptoms are less severe. A spinal tap
(lumbar puncture) is done to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid, which is sent
to a laboratory to be examined and analyzed. ... The fluid is cultured to check for
bacteria and thus rule out or confirm bacterial meningitis.

Viral Meningitis - Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders - MSD .

How do you test for viral meningitis?

1. Making a Meningitis Diagnosis.

2. Additional Diagnostic Tests for Meningitis.
3. Blood tests. Standard blood tests to analyze antibodies and foreign proteins
can alert your doctor to the presence of infection.
4. CT scan. A scan of the brain can reveal inflammation, internal bleeding, or
other abnormalities. ...
5. Lumbar puncture.
Can you test for meningitis?

X-rays or CT scans of the chest or sinuses may also show infection in other areas
that may be associated with meningitis. Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). For a
definitive diagnosis of meningitis, you'll need a spinal tap to collect cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF).Dec 23, 2017

Is viral meningitis deadly?

Many (but not all) forms of bacterial meningitis can be prevented by vaccination.
Viral meningitis has similar symptoms to bacterial meningitis, but for the most
part is neither as deadly nor as debilitating. There is no specific treatment
available for viral meningitis, but most patients fully recover over time.

TREATMENT

Acyclovir can be used to treat HSV infection. However, there are no effective
therapies for most viruses that cause meningitis (antibiotics are ineffective
against viruses), so treatment is normally limited to easing the symptoms of the
disease (for example painkillers for headache or anti-emetics to stop vomiting).