What Is Viral Meningitis?
Article Sources
- 1. “Viral Meningitis, the Facts.” Meningitis Now, July 2020, Viral_meningitis_fact_sheet_july 2020.pdf, meningitisnow.org
- 2. “Viral Meningitis.” Logan, S. A., & MacMahon, E. (2008). BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 336(7634), 36–40. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39409.673657.AE
- 3. “Viral Meningitis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html
2. What Causes Viral Meningitis?
Enteroviruses, which live in the intestines, commonly cause colds, upset stomachs, and other mild illnesses. These viruses are also the most common cause of viral meningitis in people of all ages. Most people who deal with an illness caused by an enterovirus never develop meningitis.
Mumps, measles, chickenpox, HIV, and Epstein-Barr virus are some of the other viruses that can cause viral meningitis. When the inflammation appears in newborns, it can sometimes be traced to a perinatal infection.2“Viral Meningitis.” Logan, S. A., & MacMahon, E. (2008). BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 336(7634), 36–40. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39409.673657.AE Rarely, however, do any of these viruses spread to the meninges and cause inflammation.
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