Aseptic Meningitis

Meningitis is a condition that arises when the tissues of the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord get inflamed. Aseptic meningitis is a viral meningitis and is mostly caused by members of enterovirus family that often infect the digestive tract. It is one of the most common form of meningitis and is far less severe as compared to bacterial meningitis, which could be life-threatening. Aseptic virus is completely curable and fatal cases are rarely found. Aseptic meningitis is contagious and it spread through the direct contact of respiratory secretions of the infected person or through sharing of eating utensils. It can also get transmitted as a result of fecal contamination.

Causes and Symptoms

In almost fifty percent of the cases, it has been found that enteroviruses are responsible for causing aseptic meningitis. However, there are many other viruses that can lead to aseptic viral meningitis. Viruses that cause chickenpox, mumps, herpes, rabies and HIV could also be the cause of this condition. Sometimes, it may be caused by viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes which are referred to as arboviruses. Apart from these, there are other factors that can lead to this kind of health problem. Any form of infection near the brain or spinal cord, like epidural abscesses, can give rise to inflammation of the lining of the brain and cause aseptic spinal meningitis. Fungi, mycobacteria, Lyme disease, side effects of certain medicines, tuberculosis, some forms of cancer, etc can also contribute to this condition.

In its early stages, the syndrome has a lot of similarity with common flu. Initially, the symptoms are quite mild and they take an acute form much later. The commonly observed symptoms are low-grade fever, chills, headache, stiffness in neck, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, etc. Other symptoms that are also seen in many cases are abdominal pain, muscle pain, general weakness, dizziness and confusion, sensitivity towards light or photophobia, etc.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Aseptic meningitis is diagnosed with the help of laboratory test of the sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In CSF findings, the number of white blood cells present in the fluid will go up. It also helps to identify the type of meningitis. Treatment of non-infectious causes involves the use of medicines to bring down the fever and headache. In other cases, the underlying cause is identified and the treatment is carried out accordingly. The herpes virus and chickenpox virus is treated with antiviral medicines. Bacteria of tuberculosis and Lyme disease are treated with suitable antibiotics. For cancer, treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.

Aseptic Meningitis in Pets

Aseptic meningitis can affect your pet dog too. Medium to large breed dogs like Labrador retrievers, German shepherd dogs, and Golden retrievers are at a higher risk of getting this illness. Aseptic meningitis is common in dogs that are less than two years of age. Fever and neck pain are the symptoms of this infection. Immunosuppressive drugs are administered to treat the condition. Symptoms usually reduce after 2 days of treatment, but treatment should be continued for a long time (usually several months) as there are chances of a relapse.

In general, aseptic meningitis is considered a harmless disease. It usually takes two to three weeks to cure the infection completely. However, weakness and fatigue may persist for a longer period of time. You can immune yourself with vaccination against mumps and chickenpox and control the disease. Prevention of the disease is possible by not going near an infected person and maintaining good hygienic habits.