Aseptic meningitis

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Central nervous system

Sterile meningitis

Treatment is needed for fungal or mycobacterial causes of aseptic meningitis. Herpesvirus/varicella (chicken pox) virus can be treated with anti-viral medicines. Supportive treatment for non-infectious causes consists of pain medications and management of complications, if they occur.

No specific treatment is available for enteroviral aseptic meningitis.

Aseptic meningitis is usually a harmless disease, and people usually have full recovery in 5 to 14 days after symptoms start.

Fatigue and lightheadedness may persist longer in some people.

Encephalitis (infection of brain itself) may develop, though this is rare. Infection may last much longer in a person with a depressed immune system.

Call your health care provider if symptoms of aseptic meningitis occur.

Review Date: 09/06/2006
Reviewed By: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.