Meningitis is an inflammation of the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord, and viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis. It is often less severe than bacterial meningitis (meningococcal disease). Unlike bacterial meningitis, which can be life-threatening, most people with viral meningitis improve without any treatment in 7 to 10 days. People with weakened immune systems and babies younger than one month of age are more likely to have severe cases of viral meningitis.
Non-polio enteroviruses cause 85 to 90% of viral meningitis cases in the U.S., especially from late spring to fall. While other viruses can lead to viral meningitis, this article is limited only to meningitis caused by non-polio enteroviruses.
These viruses are found in an infected person’s:
Common symptoms in adults include:
Most people with viral meningitis get better on their own within 7 to 10 days. If you have symptoms of viral meningitis and are concerned, please call your healthcare provider. Students can call the UHS 24-hour Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877. Faculty and staff should contact their health provider for advice. If you have the UT Select medical insurance plan, you can call the BlueCross BlueShield of Texas 24/7 Nurseline at 888-315-9473 for guidance.
If your doctor thinks you might have meningitis, they may collect samples for testing by Non-polio enterovirus-caused meningitis usually requires no specific treatment, and symptoms usually resolve on their own in 7 to 10 days. Those at risk of developing more serious viral meningitis illness (e.g. babies, those with weakened immune systems) may require hospitalization.
There are no vaccines to protect against non-polio enteroviruses. You can take the following steps to lower your chances of becoming infected or spreading the virus to other people if you become ill:
How is this type of meningitis spread?
What are the symptoms of this type of meningitis?
How is viral meningitis diagnosed?
How is viral meningitis treated?
How can I prevent viral meningitis?
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