Aseptic Meningitis (Viral Meningitis) definition, diagnosis and treatment in 2024

Aseptic Meningitis (Viral Meningitis) lecture 2024

Table of contents (toc)

Definition of aseptic meningitis:

Aseptic meningitis is a clinical term for an illness comprising meningeal irritation, fever, and alterations in consciousness of relatively acute onset. 

• The clinical course is less fulminant than in pyogenic meningitis.  
• In contrast to pyogenic meningitis, examination of the CSF often shows lymphocytosis, moderate protein elevation, and a normal glucose level. 
• The disease typically is self-limiting

Causes and causative agents of viral meningitis

Virus: 

-  Arboviral (mosquito-borne) diseases

-  Influenza 

-  LaCrosse Encephalitis virus

-  West Nile Virus

Common; Usually clears up in 1-2 weeks with no specific treatment

Rarely serious infection of fluid in the spinal cord or fluid that surrounds the brain

Also called aseptic meningitis

Read otitis ecterna here

Signs and symptoms of aseptic meningitis:

• Usually occur one week after exposure
• Fever
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Tiredness
• Sore Throat
• Vomiting
• Photophobia

Treatment and prevention of aseptic meningitis:

• No specific treatment for viral meningitis
• Antibiotics do not work on viruses.
• Pay careful attention to personal hygiene.
• Good hand-washing helps prevent spread of infection and viruses.

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