Viral meningitis is rarely life-threatening, but can leave you with lifelong after-effects. All causes of meningitis are serious and need medical attention.

What are the chances of dying from viral meningitis?

Overall about 1 person out of every 10 who catch the disease dies of it (9.8%), although the fatality rate is much higher in older people.

Can viral meningitis cause death?

Common symptoms in children and adults

The pathogens (germs) that cause bacterial meningitis can also be associated with another serious illness, sepsis. Sepsis is the body's extreme response to infection. Without timely treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

Is viral meningitis life long?

Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and although rarely life- threatening, it can make people very unwell. Most people make a good recovery, but for some recovery can be slow and after-effects long lasting.

Can you recover from viral meningitis?

Recovery. If you are diagnosed with viral meningitis, you will usually find that symptoms improve within a few days and most recover fully after one to four weeks.

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27 related questions found

Can viral meningitis damage brain?

Bacteria or a virus can cause meningitis. Viral meningitis is more common, but bacterial meningitis is more serious. It can lead to brain damage, paralysis, or stroke. In some cases, it can be fatal.

Why did I get viral meningitis?

Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears on its own. Most cases in the United States are caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, which are most common in late summer and early fall. Viruses such as herpes simplex virus, HIV , mumps virus, West Nile virus and others also can cause viral meningitis.

Is viral meningitis worse than bacterial?

Meningitis caused by viruses is serious but often is less severe than bacterial meningitis. People with normal immune systems who get viral meningitis usually get better on their own. There are vaccines to prevent some kinds of viral meningitis.

What are the long-term side effects of viral meningitis?

After effects most likely to be caused by meningitis

• Memory loss/lack of concentration/difficulty retaining information.
• Clumsiness/co-ordination problems.
• Headaches.
• Deafness/hearing problems/tinnitus/dizziness/loss of balance.
• Epilepsy/seizures.
• Weakness/paralysis/spasms.
• Speech problems.
• Loss of sight/vision problems.

Can viral meningitis cause permanent damage?

Viral meningitis can make you very sick, but it often doesn't leave lingering effects. Bacterial meningitis is more serious. It progresses rapidly and can cause permanent damage or even become life-threatening. Quick diagnosis and treatment can help prevent some of the potential long-term side effects.

How does meningitis lead to death?

Brain herniation, circulatory failure, intractable seizures and other brain injury were the most common specific causes of death within 14 days from admission (55%). Conclusion: Fatal complications due to the primary infection - meningitis - is most common within 14 days of admission.

Who is generally at highest risk for meningitis Why?

Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but rates of disease are highest in children younger than 1 year old, with a second peak in adolescence. Among teens and young adults, those 16 through 23 years old have the highest rates of meningococcal disease.

What is the death rate of meningitis?

Without treatment, the case-fatality rate can be as high as 70 percent, and one in five survivors of bacterial meningitis may be left with permanent sequelae including hearing loss, neurologic disability, or loss of a limb (18).

When does meningitis become fatal?

The most serious form of meningitis is bacterial. Even with treatment, bacterial meningitis can be fatal some of the time. If bacterial meningitis progresses rapidly, in 24 hours or less, death may occur in more than half of those who develop it, even with proper medical treatment.

Can you survive meningitis?

Some people with the infection die and death can occur in as little as a few hours. However, most people recover from bacterial meningitis. Those who do recover can have permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities.

Can you live with meningitis for years?

Bacterial meningitis may be subacute rather than acute. Chronic meningitis develops slowly, over weeks or longer, and may last for months to years. Rarely, chronic meningitis causes only mild symptoms and resolves on its own.

What are the complications of viral meningitis?

Main complications

hearing loss, which may be partial or total – people who have had meningitis will usually have a hearing test after a few weeks to check for any problems. recurrent seizures (epilepsy) problems with memory and concentration. co-ordination, movement and balance problems.

What type of meningitis is worse?

Viral meningitis is the more common and less serious form -- it usually clears up on its own in seven to 10 days. Bacterial meningitis is much more dangerous and can be fatal if not treated quickly with antibiotics.

Can I catch viral meningitis from someone else?

Fungal, parasitic and non-infectious meningitis are not contagious. Viral meningitis is contagious. It's spread through direct contact with body fluids, including mucus, feces, and saliva.

How is viral meningitis detected?

To diagnose viral meningitis, the doctor performs a lumbar puncture or 'spinal tap' to obtain some of the fluid that normally surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Laboratory tests on this fluid help the doctor decide whether the infection is caused by a virus or other germ such as bacteria.

How can you tell the difference between viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis?

The clues that the doctor uses are the levels of white cells, protein and glucose in the CSF. Typically in bacterial meningitis the white cell count is much higher than in viral meningitis (and is a different type of white cell), the protein is much higher and the glucose is much lower than in viral meningitis.

What does a meningitis headache feel like?

A headache caused by meningitis is typically described as severe and unrelenting. It does not subside by taking an aspirin. Stiff neck. This symptom most commonly involves a reduced ability to flex the neck forward, also called nuchal rigidity.

How bad is meningitis?

Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly. It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves. A number of vaccinations are available that offer some protection against meningitis.

Would meningitis show up in a blood test?

Blood tests can be normal in meningitis but sometimes may show signs of infection, such as elevated white blood cells in a complete blood cell count (CBC) test or elevated proteins in a total protein test.

Which is worse encephalitis or meningitis?

Individual cases of meningitis and encephalitis can vary greatly depending on their cause and severity. Therefore, it is not clear which is more serious and dangerous overall. Viral encephalitis and bacterial meningitis tend to be especially dangerous.