To prevent viral meningitis (viral meningitis), attention must be paid to reducing risk factors. Disease-related risk factors Viral infection, especially with: Adenoviruses Arboviruses such as flaviviruses Enteroviruses such as coxsackie or echoviruses. Herpes virus (herpes simplex) Lymphocytic chorionic meningitis virus (LCMV). Measles virus* Mumps virus* Poliomyelitis virus* * Primary prevention through vaccination
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate viral meningitis (viral meningitis): Leading symptoms Cephalgia (headache) Meningismus (painful stiffness of the neck). Fever Nausea (nausea)/vomiting Photophobia (light shyness) Noise aversion Associated symptoms Fatigue Anorexia (loss of appetite) Myalgia (muscle pain) Abdominal discomfort (abdominal pain) Diarrhea (diarrhea) Symptoms usually resolve within a few days, even without therapy.
Pathogenesis (development of disease) In viral meningitis, there is predominantly only irritation of the meninges (structured layers of connective tissue that enclose the brain and spinal cord like a protective shell and), possibly also meningoencephalitis (combined inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and meninges (meningitis)). Viral meningitis often occurs in conjunction with another viral disease (e.g., … Viral Meningitis: Causes
General measures Inpatient admission! Observance of general hygiene measures! Nicotine restriction (refrain from tobacco use). Alcohol restriction (abstaining from alcohol) Conventional non-surgical therapy methods Bacterial meningitis must be clearly excluded. In viral, mild meningitis, no special therapy needs to be performed. If herpes virus meningitis is suspected, antiviral therapy must be started immediately. Regular checkups … Viral Meningitis: Therapy
Laboratory parameters of the 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests. Small blood count Differential blood count Inflammatory parameter – CRP (C-reactive protein) Procalcitonin (acute phase protein): is mainly influenced by bacterial infections – for differential diagnosis between bacterial and viral meningoencephalitides. Fasting glucose (fasting blood glucose). Blood cultures (pathogens/resistance) CSF puncture (lumbar puncture/taking of cerebrospinal … Viral Meningitis: Test and Diagnosis
Therapeutic target Avoidance of complications Therapy recommendations Bacterial meningitis must be clearly excluded! If pronounced symptoms or systemic signs of inflammation or CSF diagnostics (with pleocytosis > 1,000/μl): blood culture (foci and pathogen diagnostics), antibiotics. Bland viral meningitis (with mild disease course) should be treated symptomatically antipyretic (antipyretic) and analgesic (analgesic). Patients with acute viral … Viral Meningitis: Drug Therapy
Mandatory medical device diagnostics. Computed tomography of the skull (cranial CT, cranial CT or cCT) – if meningitis (meningitis) is suspected (as a screening test). Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and mandatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification. Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull (cranial … Viral Meningitis: Diagnostic Tests
Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of viral meningitis (viral meningitis). Family history [usually foreign history]. What is the general health status of your relatives? Are there any ambient cases of viral diseases (enteroviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), mumps, polio, varicella-zoster virus (VZV)). Social history [usually foreign history]. What is … Viral Meningitis: Medical History
Cardiovascular (I00-I99). Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAB; hemorrhage between the cribriform meninges and the soft meninges; incidence: 1-3%); symptomatology: proceed according to “Ottawa rule for subarachnoid hemorrhage”: Age ≥ 40 years Meningismus (symptom of painful neck stiffness in irritation and disease of the meninges). Syncope (brief loss of consciousness) or impaired consciousness (somnolence, sopor and coma). Onset … Viral Meningitis: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis
The following are the most important diseases or complications that can be caused by viral meningitis (viral meningitis) as well: Psyche – Nervous System (F00-F99; G00-G99). Viral meningoencephalitis – virus-related combined inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and meninges (meningitis).
A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore: Inspection (viewing). Skin, mucous membranes and sclerae (white part of the eye). Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney … Viral Meningitis: Examination