Aseptic meningitis natural history, complications, and prognosis

Template:Aseptic meningitis Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

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Overview

Patients typically had a relatively short and benign course. Other terms sometimes included in the umbrella ‘aseptic meningitis’ (AM) are lymphocytic, viral, chemical, non-bacterial and sterile. Currently, the term AM is used to describe patients with no detectable bacterial cause after initial CSF evaluation. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to predict who will have a life-threatening disease from those who will rapidly recover without specific treatment.

Complications

Seizures, encephalitis and cognitive problems can develop, although rarely.

Prognosis

In immunocompetent individuals, the disease is usually mild and self-limiting. Full recovery 5-14 days afterwards is normal.