Viral Meningitis

In viral meningitis (synonyms: Acute chorioencephalitis; acute choriomeningitis; acute lymphocytic meningitis; acute serous lymphocytic choriomeningitis; acute serous lymphocytic choriomeningitis; Chorioencephalitis; choriomeningitis; lymphocytic choriomeningitis; lymphocytic choriomeningitis; lymphocytic encephalitis; lymphocytic meningitis; lymphocytic meningoencephalitis; Viral meningitis; meningitis caused by adenoviruses; meningitis caused by arboviruses; meningitis caused by coxsackieviruses; meningitis caused by ECHO virus; meningitis caused by enteroviruses; serous choriomeningitis; serous epidemic meningitis; viral meningitis; ICD-10 A87) is a form of meningitis caused by viruses.

The following viruses are among the most common triggers:

  • 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

Often viral meningitis is observed in conjunction with another viral disease.

The disease occurs clustered in the summer months.

The transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) is aerogenic (droplet infection in the air) by sneezing or coughing and by smear infection (fecal-oral: infections in which pathogens excreted in the stool (fecal) are absorbed through the mouth (oral)).

Peak incidence: the disease occurs predominantly in children between the ages of 5 and 11.

Although meningitis is a notifiable disease in many countries, exact epidemiological figures are not known. What is known, however, is that the incidence (frequency of new cases) of viral meningitis is higher than that of bacterial meningitis.

Course and prognosis: Viral meningitis is often more harmless than the bacterial form. In more than 90% of cases, the disease heals without consequences within 10-14 days, even without therapy. In rare cases, meningoencephalitis (combined inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the meninges (meningitis)) is also possible as a complication. The prognosis then depends essentially on the type of pathogen as well as on the general condition and age of the patient.With certain viruses, a lethal course is possible (e.g. HSV (hemorrhagic-necrotizing encephalitis, HSVE); lethality: 70-100 % under virostatic therapy: 20-30 %).

Vaccination: Vaccination against some pathogens (mumps, measles, rubella, polio, TBE) is available.

In Germany, the disease is notifiable according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG).