Viral meningitis natural history, complications and prognosis

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

Overview

Viral meningitis is a self resolved disease if left untreated. It takes around 10 days to be resolved. Seizures and loss of consiousness are the most important complications that may appear in the infants younger than 3 months. It has an excellent prognosis.

Natural history

If left untreated, viral meningitis usually will be self resolved within 10 days. Unlike the bacterial meningitis that may lead to critical medical conditions.

Complications

Although viral meningitis is a self resolved disease in most cases, some complications may take place in the infants younger than 3 months. These complications include the following:^[1]

Seizures
Loss of consiousness

Prognosis

Viral meningitis prognosis is excellent as the disease usually resolve within 10 days.

References

↑ Rorabaugh ML, Berlin LE, Heldrich F, Roberts K, Rosenberg LA, Doran T; et al. (1993). “Aseptic meningitis in infants younger than 2 years of age: acute illness and neurologic complications”. Pediatrics. 92 (2): 206–11. PMID 8337018.

[pmid8337018-1] Rorabaugh ML, Berlin LE, Heldrich F, Roberts K, Rosenberg LA, Doran T; et al. (1993). “Aseptic meningitis in infants younger than 2 years of age: acute illness and neurologic complications”. Pediatrics. 92 (2): 206–11. PMID 8337018.

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