A spotlight on Viral Meningitis

4^th-10^th May is Viral Meningitis Awareness Week in the UK. Originally created by the charity Meningitis Now, this event urges us to learn more about the condition and the long-term effects it can have on sufferers. This year’s campaign, “Be Vocal About Viral” encourages those who have had the disease to speak about their experiences, in an effort to share real-life stories about how the disease changed their lives.

But what is Viral Meningitis and how does it occur?

An important difference

First of all, it’s important to point out that Viral Meningitis and Bacterial Meningitis are two different diseases. Viral Meningitis is the less severe of the two conditions, and is more common with around 6,000 confirmed cases in the UK each year. However, the true number is likely to be greater than this, as some individuals only present with mild symptoms and therefore are never formally diagnosed.¹ It’s a condition that usually affects babies and young children (though anyone may get it), and unlike Bacterial Meningitis, it isn’t likely to be fatal.

Luckily, most people who suffer from Viral Meningitis will make a full recovery. However, what isn’t commonly known is that the condition can lead to a number of long-term consequences, making the road to recovery arduous. Those who have had the virus may struggle with life-changing difficulties such as constant headaches, exhaustion, memory loss, balance problems and hearing difficulties.

There is a mental health impact too, and Viral Meningitis has been linked to higher incidence of depression and anxiety among suffers.² Even today, little is understood about the recovery process and after-effects of the disease, meaning that many sufferers go without the support they need.

How do people catch Viral Meningitis?

Interestingly, Viral Meningitis isn’t spread through the usual channels that you would expect of a viral condition. In fact, multiple viruses can cause the condition, though the most common are enteroviruses. Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a number of mild illnesses and conditions, usually resulting in nothing more than slight fevers or gastrointestinal issues that resolve themselves over time.³

The condition is also not generally considered to be contagious. As such, if someone does contract the disease, it’s highly unlikely that those closest to them will also get it. In fact, linked conditions of Viral Meningitis are extremely rare, and nearly every single case occurs individually and doesn’t spread.⁴

Treatment and relief

Unfortunately, as Viral Meningitis is still quite a misunderstood condition, there is no specific treatment available. In most cases, people will recover by themselves within 10 days. However, for long-term sufferers, the focus is more on providing relief for any of the ongoing symptoms they have.

It’s partially for this reason that Viral Meningitis Awareness Week is so important. By spreading awareness and ensuring that people understand the disease, it’s likely that more support will be made available for those who are struggling with the long-term effects of the disease moving forward.

To find out more about Viral Meningitis and see how you can offer support, you can visit the Meningitis Now website

¹ Meningitis Now. Viral Meningitis. Link: https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-explained/what-is-meningitis/types-and-causes/viral-meningitis/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9LSSBhBsEiwAKtf0n6nmAKmfAtvNWXhhe8aSUC3m3A095C0s6dIFnJnAoIT1dIrETi1CvRoCCxQQAvD_BwE [Last accessed April 22].
² Meningitis Now. Viral Meningitis Week. Link: https://www.meningitisnow.org/support-us/news-centre/public-affairs/campaigns/viral-meningitis-week/ [Last accessed April 22].
³ Meningitis Now. Viral Meningitis. Link: https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-explained/what-is-meningitis/types-and-causes/viral-meningitis/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9LSSBhBsEiwAKtf0n6nmAKmfAtvNWXhhe8aSUC3m3A095C0s6dIFnJnAoIT1dIrETi1CvRoCCxQQAvD_BwE [Last accessed April 22].
⁴ Meningitis Now. Viral Meningitis. Link: https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-explained/what-is-meningitis/types-and-causes/viral-meningitis/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9LSSBhBsEiwAKtf0n6nmAKmfAtvNWXhhe8aSUC3m3A095C0s6dIFnJnAoIT1dIrETi1CvRoCCxQQAvD_BwE [Last accessed April 22].