The symptoms of viral meningitis are similar to those of other types of meningitis, and include:Ī person cannot distinguish viral meningitis from other forms of this disease based on symptoms alone. Babies, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are more vulnerable to meningitis infections from certain viruses. The viral infections that cause viral meningitis do not normally lead to meningitis in healthy people. Viral meningitis occurs when a viral infection spreads to the meninges. People with bacterial meningitis may need to stay in the hospital for observation and additional care, such as breathing support and intravenous (IV) fluids. Treatment for bacterial meningitis involves using antibiotics to kill the suspected bacteria.Ī doctor may first prescribe several broad spectrum antibiotics, then change the treatment once laboratory tests confirm which kind of bacteria has affected the meninges. These signs can occur with any type of meningitis, but are more common with severe meningitis. The test is positive and suggests meningitis if this causes a person to flex their hips and knees. A person lies flat on their back and a healthcare professional flexes the neck up and forward. When a doctor or other person attempts to extend the legs, it may cause intense low back or thigh pain.Īnother stiff neck sign is the Brudzinski sign. While a person lays on their back, a doctor will ask a person to bend their knees and move their thighs up against the abdomen. People with meningitis, including bacterial meningitis, may have Kernig sign, which is a specific type of stiff neck. The infection may have progressed to meningitis if they develop these symptoms: Symptoms may come on suddenly, and are usually much worse than those of viral meningitis.Ī person with bacterial meningitis may already be sick from another illness. Severe cases can cause death in just a few hours or days. They are: Bacterial meningitisīacterial meningitis happens when a bacterial infection spreads to the meninges surrounding the brain. There are several different types of infectious meningitis. Infectious meningitis occurs when a pathogen reaches the meninges. Share on Pinterest Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Images It will also provide information on the meningitis vaccine. This article will explore the different types of meningitis, and the symptoms, causes, and treatments for each type. Noninfectious meningitis is not contagious.ĭoctors treat meningitis differently depending on the type and cause. The viral and bacterial infections that cause infectious meningitis are typically contagious. The type of meningitis a person has can affect the outlook.ĭoctors sometimes divide meningitis into two categories: infectious meningitis, which happens when a pathogen invades the meninges, and noninfectious meningitis, which happens when a disease attacks the meninges or an injury affects it. There are many different types of meningitis, with different causes. Meningitis causes swelling in the brain’s meninges, a protective coating covering the brain. Treatment will vary depending on the type of meningitis a person has, but anyone who suspects they may have meningitis of any kind should seek immediate medical help. It is a serious illness that can be deadly. Meningitis causes swelling in the meninges, the protective membrane surrounding the spinal cord and brain.
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