All the classic signs of bacterial meningitis (very painful headache, high temperature, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and stiff neck) can be caused by aseptic meningitis. However, the condition is usually considerably less severe.

According to a review published in American Family Physician in 2017, it is the most prevalent kind of meningitis, affecting around 8 out of every 100,000 individuals annually.

Aseptic meningitis, like other kinds of meningitis, damages the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation or swelling of the meninges, a set of three membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord, causes this condition.

Meningitis can be caused by a broad variety of infections and other factors. Claire Wright, evidence and policy manager at the UK's Meningitis Research Foundation, says at least 50 different types of bacteria may cause bacterial meningitis.

How Do You Get Aseptic Meningitis?

Aseptic meningitis describes cases of meningitis where no obvious infection may be found. Aseptic meningitis is typically caused by a virus. According to the CDC, several additional viruses than enteroviruses can potentially trigger aseptic meningitis.

• Chickenpox and shingles virus varicella zoster
• Influenza virus
• Measles virus

What Triggers Viral Meningitis?

Three distinct meningeal layers protect the brain and spinal cord. The cerebrospinal fluid is contained in the subarachnoid space between the middle and inner layers. The cerebrospinal fluid's job is to act as a cushion between the brain and the skull, preventing damage to the spinal cord and brain.

It carries oxygen and nutrients from the blood to the brain cells and removes waste products from the brain. Infection of the cerebrospinal fluid by bacteria or viruses, as well as traumas and illnesses like cancer, can lead to inflammation of the meninges.

Researchers believe that 80% of adult instances of viral meningitis are caused by enteroviruses. Herpesviridae, human immunodeficiency virus, measles, mumps, West Nile virus, herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and St. Louis encephalitis virus are all potential causes of viral meningitis.

Cure For Meningitis With Antiseptics

Aseptic meningitis therapy is condition-specific and depends on the underlying etiology of the infection. Prophylactic antibiotics are often given to patients diagnosed with meningitis until further testing can rule out meningitis.

To test for meningitis, doctors often do a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, in which a tiny quantity of cerebrospinal fluid is collected from the lower back.

"The spinal fluid is our key diagnostic test for discerning between bacterial, viral, or fungal meningitis, and the exact etiology. She also notes that additional diagnostic tests, such as white blood cell and glucose levels, cultures, and others, can help determine whether or not a person has meningitis and, if so, what is causing it.

How Do You Detect Viral Meningitis?

The presence of headache, fever, and neck stiffness are the main indicators used by doctors to determine a patient's prognosis. The only reliable means to differentiate between viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis is by analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid, as both types first present with identical symptoms. 5

A lumbar puncture is performed for this purpose. A spinal tap, or lumbar puncture, is a technique in which fluid is removed from the spinal canal (the space between the lower back bones). 4

White blood cell counts, protein, and glucose levels are analyzed in a test designed to detect the presence of bacteria. In contrast to bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis is characterized by high quantities of white blood cells. 3

Can Anyone Get Aseptic Meningitis?

Aseptic meningitis can affect anybody. However, it is most common in children under 5. Aseptic meningitis, which can be caused by viruses or other organisms, is not usually prevented by immunizations designed to protect infants from bacterial meningitis.

There is an elevated risk of aseptic meningitis among children who attend school or daycare. There is also a danger to the adult staff of these institutions. Meningitis strikes more frequently in those with compromised immune systems due to diseases like AIDS or diabetes.

Treatment Options For Viral Meningitis

Antibiotics will not be given to a patient with viral meningitis since they are ineffective against viruses. Most healthy people recover from viral meningitis within 10 days of the onset of symptoms without any therapy. 2

Antiviral medication may be administered to patients whose meningitis may be linked to a particular virus for the purpose of treatment. When treating both the acute symptoms and the underlying reasons of a serious disease, it is typically essential to spend some time in the hospital. Patients admitted to the hospital may get antiviral medication as well as intravenous fluids throughout their stay. 1