How Is Viral Meningitis Transmitted?

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is most often caused by an enterovirus. These viruses are typically spread by coming into contact with fecal matter of an infected person. Common ways to spread viral meningitis through fecal contact include going to the bathroom or changing a diaper and not washing your hands afterward. Viral meningitis can also be spread similarly to other highly contagious viruses such as the flu. If you come into contact with respiratory secretions such as mucous, sputum and saliva of an infected person, you can develop meningitis.

Most people who develop meningitis have the viral form of the illness, but you can also get bacterial or fungal meningitis. These forms of the illness can also be serious, but they are not as big of a threat to others. Fungal meningitis cannot be spread to others. It is possible to spread bacterial meningitis, but the bacteria that cause the illness are not as contagious as those that cause other common infections, such as a cold.

No matter what type of meningitis you develop, the symptoms are the same. The hallmark symptoms are a high fever, a stiff neck and a severe headache. Other common symptoms include light sensitivity, a skin rash, seizures, fatigue or difficulty waking, nausea and vomiting and mental confusion. In babies, symptoms include constant crying, lack of interest in eating, excessive fussiness, body stiffness and a bulge in the soft spot of the head.

If you or your child develop any signs or symptoms of meningitis, it is important to seek immediate medical attention to help prevent complications and stop the spread the others. Viral meningitis may begin to clear on its own without treatment within a few days, but it is impossible to know what type of meningitis a person has without medical testing.

The best way to prevent contracting viral meningitis is to practice good hygiene and to avoid contact with people who have the infection. It is especially important to frequently and thoroughly wash your hands with warm, soapy water, making sure to vigorously scrub both the front and back of your hands. Also, be sure to teach your children how to properly wash their hands. You can also help prevent the spread of viruses such as meningitis by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

Vaccines are available to prevent bacterial meningitis and are included in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's routine vaccination schedule.