Protected: Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis in adults and older children. It can be caused by many different viruses.

Non-polio enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis. Only a small number of people infected with enteroviruses will develop meningitis.

Other viruses that can cause meningitis are

• Mumps virus
• Herpesviruses, including Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex viruses, and varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles)
• Measles virus
• Influenza virus
• Arboviruses, such as West Nile virus
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
• People at Risk

To determine whether a person is suffering from viral or bacterial meningitis, doctors will have to perform a lumbar puncture.

Viral meningitis is almost never life-threatening.

You can get viral meningitis by breathing in viral particles that have been sneezed or coughed into the air by another infected person. You can also become infected by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, or through contact with faeces (for example, by changing nappies).

Close contacts of someone with viral meningitis can become infected with the virus that made that person sick. However, these close contacts are not likely to develop meningitis. Only a small number of people who get infected with the viruses that cause meningitis will develop viral meningitis.

Common symptoms in babies:

• Fever
• Irritability
• Poor eating
• Sleepiness or trouble waking up from sleep
• Lethargy (a lack of energy)

Common symptoms in children and adults:

• Fever
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light)
• Sleepiness or trouble waking up from sleep
• Nausea
• Irritability
• Vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy (a lack of energy)

Most people with mild viral meningitis usually get better on their own within 7 to 10 days.

Initial symptoms of viral meningitis are similar to those for bacterial meningitis. However, bacterial meningitis is usually severe and can cause serious complications, such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities. The pathogens (germs) that cause bacterial meningitis can also be associated with another serious illness, sepsis.

If NIAS staff are aware that the patient has a suspected or confirmed Viral Meningitis this should be communicated to EAC and ED staff when transferring the patient to ensure effective patient care and management. It also ensures that staff adhere to Droplet precautions to prevent staff exposure.

• Hand Hygiene should be completed as per the 5 moments in line with usual practice.
• Eye protection should be risk assessed for any concern regarding a splash risk.
• Gloves and Aprons should be worn.
• The patient should be transported via ambulance with no other patients present.
• All equipment and the ambulance should have a deep clean paying particular attention to touch points.
• Laundry should be treated as contaminated, placed into an alginate bag and placed into a red laundry bag.

PPE may need to be increased depending on the causative virus! IPC advice should be sought.

Staff do not need to be routinely followed up or prophylaxis. If the causative organism is known a risk assessment will be made with the staff, line manager and IPC team.

The IPC team can be contacted for further advice. The team will be able to help staff risk assess the patient and precautions required and to provide support where required.