Meningitis viral - PDF document

Meningitis (viral) Symptoms can include: • Fever • Headache • • Sensitivity to light • Nausea • Vomiting • Lack of energy Incubation Period Varies depending on the virus that is causing the illness Contagious Period As long as the virus is being shed from the body. This will vary depending on the virus causing the illness. Recommended Actions Isolate, exclude, and refer to a health care provider. Immediate medical attention is required. Cases: Exclude cases as soon as meningitis is suspected. A case can be readmitted when they are cleared by a health care professional. Contacts: None *If you have questions please call public health for assistance and recommendations.* Transmission Varies depending on the virus that is causing the illness. Prevention Careful hand-washing , monitoring of diapering practices , and management of soiled diapers are important prevention steps. Resources • CDC Meningitis (Viral) Image by CDC Additional Information: Viral meningitis is an infection of the thin covering of the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It is caused by many kinds of viruses, the most common being intestinal viruses (enteroviruses). Most people are exposed to these viruses at some time, but very few develop meningitis Most cases occur in children, teens and young adults. Almost all cases occur as a single isolated Serious complications such as hearing loss, mental retardation and death may be a result of viral meningitis but are rare. Meningitis may also be caused by bacteria. See and Meningococcal invasive disease. Back to the top