More About Viral Meningitis
Spike in Viral Meningitis Cases
July 1998
Detecting Meningitis
Nov. 1999
Dec. 12, 2000--
Some doctors in northern Utah say they're seeing more cases of viral meningitis in kids and adults this year.
One large pediatric clinic says the caseload has more than doubled over last year.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports from Layton.
Four-month-old Santana and Ernesto Garcia are both recovering from viral meningitis.
Heather Garcia first noticed the kids were fussy. One of the twins had difficulty moving his head.
HEATHER GARCIA, MOTHER: "WHEN THEY WERE IN THE HOSPITAL THEY LOOKED REALLY PALE. IT WAS REALLY SCARY FOR ME. I FELT REALLY BAD BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WERE IN PAIN."
Fortunately the twins had viral, not bacterial meningitis.
While both illnesses involve inflammation of the lining of the brain and the central nervous system, the viral version is seldom life-threatening. Patients young and old usually recover on their own. In fact, it's not even a reportable disease to health departments.
The virus responsible usually causes mild summer or winter colds, like these kids have. But Dr. Justin Alvey says this year, it seems to be cycling into viral meningitis in larger numbers.
JUSTIN ALVEY, M.D., WEE CARE PEDIATRIC CLINIC: "WE'VE SEEN 82 CASES OF VIRAL MENINGITIS THIS YEAR. ABOUT 55 OF THOSE WERE CAUSED BY THE ENTERO VIRUS. THAT'S ABOUT A TWO-FOLD INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR."
ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "SYMPTOMS OF VIRAL MENINGITIS MAY INCLUDE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A STIFF NECK. PATIENTS MAY FEEL SEVERE PAIN. THEY MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY TURNING THE HEAD FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, AND ESPECIALLY IN TOUCHING THE CHIN TO THE CHEST."
"THE MOST PAINFUL THING WOULD BE TO PUT YOUR CHIN TO YOUR CHEST - OFTEN PAINFUL IN THE BACK. ALSO LIFTING YOUR KNEES UP TOWARD YOU CHEST IS OFTEN PAINFUL IN THE LOWER BACK."
The residual effects of moderate spiral meningitis may leave neck and upper back muscles sensitive for four to six weeks, even after the patient has recovered.
The State Health Department says kids or adults often may get a mild form of viral meningitis and not even know they have it.
Adults can treat viral meningitis with over-the-counter pain medications.
Hot and cold compresses will sometimes relieve stiffness and pain in the neck.
Parents should always have a small child checked out by a physician, to make sure it's not bacterial meningitis.
