Viral Meningitis in Children

Top view cross section of brain showing lining.Meningitis is an infection or inflammation of the membrane and fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is caused by a virus. It may start as another illness, such as the stomach flu. It most often happens in children younger than 5 years of age. It is not the same as bacterial meningitis, which is a serious illness caused by bacteria. Bacterial meningitis needs to be treated with antibiotics right away. Viral meningitis is often mild. It will go away with no treatment.

Symptoms of meningitis

Viral meningitis is not an emergency. But the symptoms are often the same as bacterial meningitis. You won’t know which one your child has so it is important to seek medical care immediately if your child has any of these symptoms:

  • Fever over 100.4°F (38.0°C) (in a baby less than 2 months of age)

  • Severe headache that doesn’t go away

  • Stiff neck (arching back or neck in infants)

  • Nausea or vomiting with headache

  • Sleepiness; trouble waking up

  • Irritability; dislike of being handled

  • Bruise-like rash or splotchy skin

  • Sensitivity to light

  • No appetite

Note: If a newborn or infant is irritable, very sleepy, or eats poorly, have the child checked by a healthcare provider right away, even if there is no fever.

Diagnosing meningitis

Tests are done to diagnose meningitis. The tests can show if it is bacterial or viral. The tests include:

  • Spinal tap. A sample of spinal fluid is taken from the spinal canal located in the lower back. It is checked for signs of bacteria or viruses. This is the main test for meningitis.

  • Imaging tests. These may include a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests look for areas of swelling and inflammation.

Treating viral meningitis

Viral meningitis often goes away on its own in about 10 days. Medicines may be used to treat the symptoms associated with viral meningitis, such as headache or pain medicines, antinausea medicines, or intravenous (IV) fluids. These are to help keep your child more comfortable. Depending on the cause of your child's viral meningitis, the healthcare provider may prescribe certain antiviral medicines. When your child has recovered, you may need to take him or her to the healthcare provider. This is to check for problems with vision, hearing, movement, and mental function.

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