Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis must be distinguished from bacterial meningitis, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and requires urgent treatment including prompt antibiotics.

Treat all patients with suspected meningitis in line with guidelines on bacterial meningitis until the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is excluded or deemed unlikely. See Bacterial meningitis in adults and Bacterial meningitis in children.

No specific treatment has been proven to be beneficial for viral meningitis.

If testing identifies a viral pathogen, stop any empirical antibiotics or corticosteroids that have been started, give the patient supportive care as needed, and prioritise discharging the patient from hospital if they are well enough.

Viral meningitis is inflammation of the meninges caused by a variety of different viruses and is the most common cause of aseptic meningitis.