Viral meningitis medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]
Overview
Viral meningitis has no specific treatment as most of the patients recover within 7-10 days. However, antiviral medical therapy can be provided for the patients caused with specific viruses like the enteroviruses or the influenza. In severe cases, the patients will need to be hospitalized.
Medical therapy
Viral meningitis treatment is done in two ways the supportive measures and the antiviral therapy.
Supportive measures
- Analgesics for reliefing pain
- Acetaminophen for the fever
- If seizures are noticed, Phenytoin would be helpful
- Taking care of the balance of the fluids and electrolytes to avoid development of brain edema[1]
Antiviral medical therapy
- Acyclovir is the antiviral agent that can be used against the enteroviruses. It is effective against viral meningitis so that it is recommended to start it early.[2]
- Pleconaril and immune serum globulin (ISG) are antiviral agents that can be used in case of enteroviral meningitis. They inhibit viral replication.
References
- ↑ Rotbart HA (2000). "Viral meningitis". Semin Neurol. 20 (3): 277–92. doi:10.1055/s-2000-9427. PMID 11051293.
- ↑ Tyler KL (2004). "Herpes simplex virus infections of the central nervous system: encephalitis and meningitis, including Mollaret's". Herpes. 11 Suppl 2: 57A–64A. PMID 15319091.