{"id":9810,"date":"2019-08-12T01:25:06","date_gmt":"2019-08-12T01:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9810"},"modified":"2021-04-25T17:12:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T17:12:17","slug":"16-common-causes-of-viral-meningitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/16-common-causes-of-viral-meningitis\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Common Causes of Viral Meningitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Viral meningitis is a serious illness that can be fatal if left untreated. Anyone can develop meningitis, but there are some things that cause it or make a person more likely to get it or more at risk for it. Knowing the common causes of viral meningitis can help you avoid them, so you are less likely to develop it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viral meningitis is caused by other viruses that get in the body and then make their way through the bloodstream and to the brain or spinal fluid. Once in the brain, it causes encephalitis and irritates the meninges, causing them to swell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms may come on suddenly or overtime. Some people confuse the symptoms of meningitis with those of other illnesses and viruses, and many people can suffer from the condition while the virus that caused it is still in their system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some common causes of viral meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Enteroviruses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These viruses are the most common causes of viral meningitis<\/a>. They create infections that have very mild or no symptoms, which make it easier for meningitis to develop. If they do create symptoms, they are usually those associated with the common cold such as a sore throat, stomach ache, or diarrhea. A person may have the virus and not even know it. If left untreated, they can turn into meningitis.\u00a0 These viruses commonly affect children and are often spread in schools, daycares, summer camps, and even college dorms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The viruses are usually spread in the summer months and early fall. They are spread by mouth and hand. There are many strains of these viruses so vaccinations cannot prevent them completely. Most people will be exposed to these viruses many times in their lives but will not develop meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who have problems with their immune systems or other underlying health problems are more likely to develop meningitis after being exposed to these viruses than a healthy person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Herpes Viruses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The herpes virus<\/a> is a common one, and someone everyone will be exposed to in their lives. There are different types of herpes viruses, and they can affect different parts of the body.\u00a0 The herpes virus can affect people differently. Some types can cause fever blisters or cold sores; others can cause bumps or lesions on the eyes, mouth hands, and even genitals. The virus can stay in a person\u2019s system for years, and they may experience reoccurring outbreaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it stays I the system for so long, there is always a chance that it can develop into meningitis. Some people also experience sudden attacks of meningitis symptoms that can last for several days.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since many people do not even know they have the herpes virus, they also may not be aware that the symptoms of meningitis are anything to worry about. A doctor can diagnose both herpes and meningitis with a few simple tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Mumps and Measles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mumps <\/a>and measles were once common childhood illnesses. Thanks to vaccinations, they are much less common now. They can be serious and even dangerous. Some people who have not received vaccines against the viruses that cause these illnesses can still get them. The diseases themselves can cause a number of problems such as fever, rashes, and headaches. If left untreated, they can lead to complications and even meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people don\u2019t have to worry about catching these viruses, but if you have not been vaccinated against them and have a weakened immune system, you are not only at risk for the measles and mumps, but also for meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fewer people are not vaccinating their children, which means mumps and measles are becoming more common. They also make the risk of meningitis higher.  Young children in school, as well as college kids, are most likely to be exposed to these viruses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Flaviviruses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These viruses often infect animals such as birds, or rats. They can also be carried and spread by ticks <\/a>and mosquitos. While they can cause a lot of problems for animals, they can be harder on people. They can mutate and spread to humans easily.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they all have their own symptoms and can cause a variety of problems, meningitis is one of the biggest risks. These viruses can appear as something mild such as the flu or a cold but quickly become worse. If they make their way to the bloodstream or into the spinal fluid, they can cause encephalitis and meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it takes so long for a person to show symptoms with these viruses, meningitis is often severe before a person seeks medical attention. Most of these viruses don\u2019t have vaccines, so it\u2019s almost impossible to avoid them. Luckily, they are somewhat rare and don\u2019t cause serious problems in healthy people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. HIV<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

HIV <\/a>can lead to a lot of problems. Because it directly affects the immune system, it makes it easier for people to contract many types of viruses. It also prevents the body from fighting off those diseases properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who have HIV are much more likely to suffer from meningitis than someone who is healthy. The more they are exposed to viruses, the weaker their immune systems become. This makes it easy for a virus or bacteria to spread throughout the body. Once it gets to the bloodstream, it can spread to the brain and turn into meningitis. It\u2019s also difficult for doctors to treat meningitis in patients who have HIV because there may be many viruses in their system at the same time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people with HIV now take precautions to avoid getting sick or catching a virus that could lead to meningitis and cause other severe complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Epstein-Barr virus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Epstein- Barr <\/a>is a highly contagious virus that can be very dangerous.\u00a0 It is spread by bodily fluids such as saliva, blood, and mucous. It most commonly affects young adults and teenagers, but it can infect anyone.\u00a0 While it is typically spread from person to person contact, it can also be spread during sexual contact, organ transplants, and blood transfusions. Unlike some viruses, it\u2019s very easy to pick up this virus, and you can even get it from drinking after someone or kissing them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virus lives in moist environments, and there is even evidence that disinfecting an object won\u2019t kill the virus. It takes a while for symptoms to show up so people may expose others to it for weeks before they realize they are sick.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people are able to recover from the virus fairly quickly. It can cause severe complications if left untreated and even lead to meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Cytomegalovirus Meningitis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This type of meningitis can occur in people who have compromised immune systems<\/a> and are vulnerable to diseases and illnesses. It often occurs when a person is being treated or a virus. Instead of the body being able to fight off the virus and help it leave the body, the virus moves around and changes within the body and can spread to different areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it reaches the bloodstream and brain, it can create a variety of severe symptoms and lead to encephalitis and meningitis. These viruses usually only affect people with compromised immune systems, but they can infect almost anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are also more likely to contract these viruses and suffer more severe symptoms and meningitis. Certain medical conditions can also make a person more likely to suffer from meningitis as a result of these viruses. Doctors may struggle to treat them and work hard to protect their patients from getting them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Varicella-Zoster Virus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is another virus most people will come in contact within their lives. It\u2019s the same virus that causes chickenpox <\/a>and shingles, and it can stay in the body for years and remain dormant. Some people never show symptoms of the virus, and others become sick fairly quickly. Some people even suffer from chickenpox when they are first exposed to the virus and then later have shingles too as a result of the virus living in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can just as easily stay in the body and suddenly cause meningitis. If the virus remains alive in the body and travels from the bloodstream to the brain, meningitis may occur. It can take a while for a person to show the symptoms of meningitis.  When they do appear, they may be confused with the symptoms of other more common illnesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person who has recently had shingles or chickenpox should be monitored for signs of meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Pregnancy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pregnant women need to take preventative measures to avoid infection. Pregnancy<\/a> causes an increase in the risk of catching listeriosis. This infection occurs due to the presence of listeria bacteria, which may cause the onset of meningitis. Listeriosis causes significant amounts of swelling in the affected tissues. If it reaches the brain, it may cause severe meningitis in the infected individual.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listeriosis also increases the risk of premature delivery and stillbirth in the infected mother. After infection, the patient may notice that they start to develop the hallmark symptoms of the condition, such as high fever, muscle ache, and nausea. The patient requires immediate diagnosis and treatment of their state to avoid complications with the pregnancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listeriosis typically occurs as bacteria brought into the body through eating contaminated food. Pregnant women experience low immune function in the initial stages of the pregnancy. As a result, they are more predisposed to developing an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Compromised Immune System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The immune system<\/a> is the body\u2019s line of defense against invading viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. When the brain notices the presence of any disease, it tells the immune system to increase the production of white blood cells and antibodies to fight off the invaders. However, some people have a low immune response that is not capable of clearing the pathogen before it starts to replicate in the body. As a result, people with weak immune systems are more at risk of catching a severe and life-threatening illness, such as meningitis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a multitude of reasons for compromised immune function, with the most common being the previous infection with another disease. People who are dealing with conditions such as HIV\/AIDs, diabetes, or kidney disease all have lower immune function than healthy individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some medications and surgeries can also reduce the health of your immune system and reduce its efficiency as well. People that have gone through surgery to remove the spleen may also require vaccinations to prevent the onset of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Living in a Communal Accommodation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some forms of meningitis are airborne, and they spread through the emissions of the respiratory system<\/a> in infected individuals. This form of the disease still presents the same brain swelling issues as other types of meningitis, but it is far more aggressive and contagious than other types of the disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who live in communal settings, such as college dormitories, and military barracks, are at higher risk of infection as well. These individuals are at a higher risk of contracting meningitis through transmission by an infected individual sleeping close by their bunk. Meningitis is an aggressive disease, and it spreads quickly through groups. Therefore, anyone that\u2019s living in a communal setting should be removed and quarantined until they recover from the illness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are living in a communal setting, you must learn to be on the lookout for infected persons. If you notice anyone exhibiting signs of meningitis or any other infection, report it to others as soon as possible to prevent an outbreak of disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Remaining Unvaccinated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s becoming a popular trend for parents to leave their children unvaccinated. Plenty of Hollywood celebrities and YouTube channels are now promoting the fact that they are against the use of vaccinations <\/a>to prevent diseases in their children. The movement is gaining momentum and stems from the ideology that vaccines cause autism and other horrible effects in children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the facts do show that autism can occur in some children that receive a vaccination, the science around vaccinations evolved tremendously in the last 70-years. Autism due to vaccination occurred in the early stages of the technology in the fifties and sixties. Medical science has since improved vaccines to the extent that they do not cause any harm in children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remaining unvaccinated against preventable diseases due to the threat of autism is a ridiculous choice. The chances of complications with vaccines are lower than what you would expect from complications to cough medicine or other OTC medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Exposure to Body Fluids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Viruses transmit through a variety of mechanisms. Some viruses can live outside of the body for a few hours, contaminating surfaces. If anyone touches these surfaces, and then touch their face, they have a good chance of catching the disease. If infected individuals cough or sneeze onto a surface, the body fluids transfer the virus cells that remain alive on the contaminated surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have contact with a person and swap body fluids<\/a>, through kissing or sexual contact, you have an increased risk of contracting any disease the other person is experiencing. Meningitis transmits through body fluids, and it can remain alive on surfaces outside of the body for several hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decrease your exposure risk by avoiding having sex or intimate contact with anyone that you do know well. Always assess any individuals you come in contact with for signs of infection, especially during the change in seasons when viruses are more active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Traveling on Communal Transport<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who take public transport are at a higher risk of contracting viral pathogens<\/a>, such as meningitis. As discussed, meningitis can live outside of the body for a few hours in the body fluids expelled by infected individuals. Therefore, if the infected person sneezes on a handrail, and you touch the handrail, you now have the live virus on your hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you touch your face, and some of the virus cells land on your eyes or in your mouth, you have a high risk of contracting the disease. It may take a few days for the virus to gain enough strength to start presenting the symptoms of meningitis. By this time, you will have no chance of remembering where you contracted the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who travel on subways and buses in high-population areas should take precautions to ensure they do not experience an infection. Wear a face mask to cover your mouth and nose from breathing in any infected particles that are floating through the air. Carry antibacterial hand wipes to ensure that your hands stay clean and free of disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Mosquito-Borne Diseases <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mosquitos <\/a>are known for carrying various diseases. The most commonly known viruses carried by mosquitos is malaria. Traditional malaria does not present symptoms of meningitis and swelling of the brain. However, there are various strains of the disease, of which the most fatal is the cerebral variety. Patients with cerebral malaria experience swelling of the brain that may end up being fatal in some patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another form of a mosquito-borne disease that can result in the onset of meningitis is West Nile Fever. WNF occurs in mosquitoes around the Nile region of Africa. Patients who are bitten by mosquitoes carrying the pathogen experience the rapid onset of symptoms within 48-hours after the bite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are traveling to regions of the world where mosquito-borne diseases are common, then make sure you take preventative measures to avoid bites. Take along mosquito repellant, wear long-sleeves in the early morning and the evening, and sleep with a mosquito net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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16. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

LCM describes a viral disease carried by rodents<\/a>. Estimates show that around 5-percent of rats carry LCM, and they may transmit the disease throughout their life without presenting any adverse symptoms in the mouse or rat carrying the virus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The disease also occurs in common house mice used by breeders as food for other animals, such as reptiles. Human beings are more inclined to experience the transmission of the disease through infection by rats or house mice than they are through mouse breeders. Research suggests that only 5-percent of the population has antibodies in their bloodstream to prevent LCM infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCM occurs in every continent throughout the world. LCM is also an underreported disease, meaning that official statistics may not show the entire footprint of the disease. While adults do not experience severe symptoms, LCM infection in infants can result in a life-threatening situation. Pregnant women infected with the virus, are at higher risk of their baby developing chorioretinitis, congenital hydrocephalus, and mental retardation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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