Treatment

Viral Meningitis 

Viral meningitis is far less serious that Bacterial meningitis, does not need hospitalization and is usually not life threatening.   It usually takes around two weeks to recover from viral meningitis.

Bacterial Meningitis 

Bacterial meningitis needs to be recognised and treated quickly with intravenous antibiotics to prevent permenant damage to the body.   If not treated quickly bacterial meningitis has a high mortality rate.

The antibiotics used to treat meningitis are usually cefalosporin (eg cefolaxime, cefolaxone) and need to have two properties- to be able to reach the meninges at an appropriate concentration and must be active against the invading bacteria.

Seizures can be treated using anticonvulsants.

Respiratory failure can be overcome by either giving high flow oxygen, or mechanical ventilation may be needed.

Hypotension and shock can be treated using intravenous saline.

High intracranial pressure can be treated using mannitol, or if there is blocked cerebrospinal fluid a cerebral shunt can be used for temporary/permenant drainage.

Swelling can be treated using steroids

Amuptation can be used to remove dangerous gangrenous tissue.

It is possible to recover from bacterial meningitis in ten to fourteen days if it is diagnosed early, but it may take weeks/months to fully recover.