Viral meningitis medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

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.

Viral meningitis treatment is done in two ways the supportive measures and the antiviral therapy.

• Analgesics for relieving pain.
• Acetaminophen for the fever.
• If seizures are noticed, Phenytoin would be helpful.
• Fluids and electrolytes management to avoid development of brain edema.^[1]

• 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.