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CDC Guidelines on Meningitis

Meningitis is "an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease can be caused by a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection, with the type of infection determining the type of treatment needed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides many guidelines and information about this disease.

  1. Symptoms

    • According to the CDC, you may have meningitis if you have a high fever, a headache and stiff neck. A high fever is any temperature above 103 degrees, according to familydoctor.org. Each of the symptoms may develop quickly (within hours) or over the course of a couple days. Less common symptoms include nausea, vomiting and aversion to bright lights. The CDC suggests that people experiencing these types of symptoms see a doctor as soon as possible.

    Bacterial Meningitis Treatment

    • If you experience the symptoms of meningitis, your doctor can prescribe a course of treatment, determined by the type of infection you have. For bacterial meningitis, the CDC suggests treating the disease with antibiotics, specifically ceftriaxone and vancomycin. If the meningitis was caused by bacteria and an antibiotic treatment is started quickly, the risk of dying from this disease drops below 15 percent. This risk, however, may be higher among high-risk groups, such as the elderly.

    Viral Meningitis Treatment

    • According to the CDC, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. According to Disease Conditions FAQ, the reason there is no specific treatment for viral infections is that viruses are mutational and therefore do not respond to many drugs. While there is no treatment for viral meningitis, the CDC says that most patients recover from the disease within seven to 10 days. However, if the symptoms are severe (or if the patient is older), a hospital stay might be necessary.

    Fungal Meningitis Treatment

    • For meningitis caused by fungus, the CDC suggests using a high dosage of anti-fungal medications administered intravenously. This course of treatment can be long. Due to the severity of it and the recommended course of treatment, a hospital stay is necessary.

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