What virus causes meningitis in adults?
Causes. Non-polio enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis in the United States. Only a small number of people infected with enteroviruses will develop meningitis.
How common is enterovirus meningitis?
Enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis, resulting in an estimated 75,000 cases annually in the United States (4, 7). Diagnosis of enterovirus infection of the central nervous system has been improved significantly by PCR assessment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the detection of viral RNA (3).
What are the causes of enteroviruses?
What causes an enterovirus infection in a child? Enteroviruses can be spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs droplets into the air or on surfaces. A child may then breathe in droplets, or touch a contaminated surface and touch his or her eyes, mouth, or nose.
How does enterovirus cause meningitis?
How is enteroviral meningitis transmitted? The non-polio enteroviruses that cause meningitis are transmitted faecal-orally. The enteroviruses live in the human gastro-intestinal tract, and are shed in the faeces.
How do adults get meningitis?
Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette.
What symptoms does enterovirus cause?
Key Facts. Mild symptoms of enterovirus infection may include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, skin rash, mouth blisters, and body and muscle aches. Children with asthma are particularly at risk for severe symptoms from enterovirus infection.
Can adenovirus cause meningitis?
Nervous system infections: Meningitis and encephalitis can sometimes happen due to adenovirus infection. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, and confusion.
Is adult meningitis rare?
It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly.
Can adults get enterovirus?
Adults can be infected, but they tend to have few or no symptoms. There was an increase in severe illnesses caused by enterovirus D68 in 2014 and 2018. Some of the infected children had severe respiratory distress.