Meningitis happens when the brain’s lining becomes inflamed. This lining is called the meninges. Aseptic meningitis occurs when there are signs of meningitis. However, when a sample of brain fluid is taken, bacteria do not grow. This condition is often treatable. In many cases, recovery takes 7-10 days.
The most common causes of aseptic meningitis are:
These factors increase your chance of developing aseptic meningitis:
Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.
If you have any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to meningitis. These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have any of these:
Your doctor will:
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:
To help reduce your chance of getting aseptic meningitis, take the following steps:
RESOURCES:
Aseptic Meningitis
http://asepticmeningitis.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada
http://www.meningitis.ca/en/
References:
Alan R. Viral meningitis. EBSCO Patient Education Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16&topicID=1034. Updated October 2009. Accessed February 16, 2010.
Aseptic meningitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated January 20, 2010. Accessed February 5, 2010.
Aseptic meningitis in the newborn and young infant. American Family Physician website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/afp/990515ap/2761.html. Published May 15, 1999. Accessed February 5, 2010.
Aseptic Meningitis website. Available at: http://asepticmeningitis.org/. Accessed February 5, 2010.
Ginsberg L, Kidd D. Chronic and recurrent meningitis. Pract Neurol. 2008;8(6):348-361.
Meningitis questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/faq.html. Accessed February 5, 2010.
Last reviewed March 2010 by Rimas Lukas, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.