Symptoms of viral meningitis in children and adults. Is it possible to prevent this disease?

Despite the prevailing view on the Internet that viral meningitis is a relatively easy disease, it does not require special treatment, that is, it goes by itself, I want to draw attention to the fact that this disease is as deadly dangerous as its bacterial counterpart. Everything depends on what kind of virus the meningitis was caused, what was the state of the organism at the time of the disease, what level of blood supply is provided by the vessels of the brain. Therefore, the symptoms of viral meningitis (as well as bacterial meningitis) deserve attention.

How does viral meningitis begin?

In most cases, at the beginning of the disease there are catarrhal phenomena (runny nose, cough), the body temperature can rise. If an enterovirus from the Coxsackie group or the ECXO has entered the body, the first symptoms may be a slight runny nose, a feeling of discomfort when swallowing, and diarrhea. The temperature in this case is often increased. Primary ingestion of the virus of herpes, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus can be complicated by meningitis, and then the preceding obvious symptomatology can become symptoms of malaise, weakness, sore throat, the appearance on the skin of characteristic vesicles with light contents. The same symptoms can also occur with the activation of these viruses, which were already in the human body before.

Meningitis can complicate the course of infections such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, diseases from the ARVI group, and rubella. Then the symptoms of the disease immediately precede the symptoms: a characteristic rash, weakness, fever (optional), conjunctivitis and all the signs that doctors diagnosed with 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 worried about the forehead and temples; It becomes more painful when turning the head, changing the position of the body.

In addition to the headache, nausea and / or vomiting, which occur regardless of food intake, are usually noted. Symptoms of viral meningitis often include photophobia, increased headache with loud sounds (with the temperature increased, there was no head injury, the person does not suffer from arterial hypertension); Any touch to the skin is felt as more intense than it really is. There may be dizziness, double vision.

Viral meningitis symptoms in children is the same as in adults. The child always tries to lie, throws back his head, refuses to eat. Convulsions against a background of not too high fever in a child can also indicate the development of this disease.

Meningitis caused by herpes simplex viruses, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus develops rapidly: after a minor malaise with or without other symptoms, the temperature sharply increases, which is very difficult to knock down, the strongest headache. Very soon, there is a depression of consciousness: a person or difficult to wake up, or he behaves as if under the influence of alcohol, or at first he is rather nervous, disoriented, then more and more trying to lie. Herpetic meningitis often occurs with a convulsive syndrome: seizures are repeated, in all limbs, with a disturbance of consciousness, almost always lead to a cessation of breathing and require resuscitative care.

In a number of cases (except when the disease has developed as a complication of one of the "childhood" infections), when the symptoms of viral meningitis are suitable for those described above, an accurate diagnosis can be established only by the results of a lumbar puncture. Find out which virus caused the disease is quite difficult, since tests of this type are done for a long time. Only viruses of the herpetic group can be determined by PCR-diagnostics within a day or three, so that, in addition to Acyclovir (Zoviraksa, Virolexa), a specific immunoglobulin could be administered.

Viral meningitis: prevention

From this disease can not be protected by 100%, as well as from any viral infection. All you can do is lead a healthy lifestyle (including hardening), since if a virus that can cause meningitis gets into 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. In the period of active herpes sores, a sick person should smear them with Acyclovir and during this period try not to contact without a mask with members of their family, not to eat with them from common utensils and do not use common towels.

If you or your child interacted with a person who later had a viral meningitis, do not panic: almost with a 98% chance of meningitis you will not develop, but it is quite possible to "get" a cough or a runny nose.