What is the drug of choice for viral meningitis?

Treatment. In most cases, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Most people who get mild viral meningitis usually recover completely in 7 to 10 days without treatment. Antiviral medicine may help people with meningitis caused by viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza.

How do you treat enterovirus?

There is no specific treatment for non-polio enterovirus infection. People with mild illness caused by non-polio enterovirus infection typically only need to treat their symptoms. This includes drinking enough water to stay hydrated and taking over-the-counter cold medications as needed. Most people recover completely.

When should I start acyclovir for meningitis?

In herpetic viral infections, acyclovir is significantly beneficial only if given very early in the course of the infection. Suspected cases should be treated as soon as possible; in cases complicated by seizures, encephalitis is assumed and acyclovir should be initiated.

Does enterovirus cause meningitis?

Enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis, resulting in an estimated 75,000 cases annually in the United States (4, 7). Diagnosis of enterovirus infection of the central nervous system has been improved significantly by PCR assessment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the detection of viral RNA (3).

What type of virus is enterovirus?

Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild. However if they infect the central nervous system, they can cause serious illness. The two most common ones are echovirus and coxsackievirus, but there are several others.

Does acyclovir treat viral meningitis?

Treatment is mainly supportive. Acyclovir is efficacious in treating herpes simplex meningitis and can be used to treat herpes zoster meningitis.

Can steroids help viral meningitis?

Steroid therapy has been employed to reduce the inflammatory response commonly exhibited in meningitis, although its effects vary by the study population studied and by the pathogen (Hoffman and Weber, 2009).

Is there a vaccine for viral meningitis?

Is there a vaccine for viral meningitis? There are no vaccines to protect against the viruses that most commonly cause viral meningitis (non-polio enteroviruses). Some vaccinations can protect you against diseases such as measles, mumps, chickenpox, and influenza, which can lead to viral meningitis.