Anyone ever had experience with viral meningitis?

[rppper]

I have a nephew that is in ICU after contracting this....not sure from
Where, but he was almost at deaths door last night and is critical but doing better as of this morning. His kidneys are now working again as is his liver, so there has been improvement, but his neck has been swelling, he has pneumonia and a staph infection on top of the meningitis. Had anyone been through this or up to date on what we should expect? He's 22 and a good kid...

[sharp_stick]

1. I did a lot of graduate work on

bacterial meningitis, not viral, but in general a healthy adult with a normal immune system will recover completely.

Unless the meningitis virus is Herpes (HSV) there isn't usually any need or benefit of giving anti-viral drugs.

Was the meningitis following the kidney failure? That's one of the more common mechanisms of contracting it.

I hope everything turns out well.

[rppper]

2. I want to say it was a symptom....

He thought it was the flu at first, that was over the weekend. The doctors thought it was bacterial at first, due to how fast it hit him, but the spinal tap results indicated viral earlier this morning. The biggest obstacle today is the swelling in the neck and the staph infection. The swelling is apparently causing his breathing tube to leak as well....he's been improving slowly but everyone there working in him says the next 24 hours are going to be crucial.

Thanks for the kind wishes. We've all got our fingers crossed here. He's young and in great shape, so hopefully he'll come out alright....he's got a long road at this point.

[MissMillie]

3. No experience with it but

I do see that in many doctors' offices post notices that college-age kids should be immunized against meningitis.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. My father had it many years ago, when in his late 60s.

It was touch and go for a while, but he survived. Started out feeling like a cold and ear infection. Within 24 hours, he was out of it and fighting the ambulance attendants. The doctors said he had likely carried the bug around with him for years.

It took the better part of a week to start improving, then a month of so to recover.

Best of luck to your nephew.

[rppper]

5. That's what they're telling us now.

He'll be in ICU for a week after they get him more stabilized, and 2-3 weeks after that...he's been improving in
Baby steps today.

Thanks for your kind words.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. You're welcome.

It's scary as hell for the family going through that.

[Callmecrazy]

7. I had it as a kid...

I was about 8 years old. I remember having a stiff neck and was acutely lactose intolerant, and always fatigued. I remember about 5 days in the hospital and about 8 weeks before I fully got my strength back. I also developed a high-frequency hearing loss that eventually worked itself out. No long term effects except the hearing loss. That took a few years. I don't think it was related, but I also developed a heart murmur when I was about 15 that is gone now. I'm told that a heart murmur is not uncommon is teens.

[Demo_Chris]

8. Wishing you and your family the best! nt

[Blue_In_AK]

9. I had it

back in 1980. It was absolutely the worst headache I've ever had in my life, to the point where I wanted to bash my head into the wall. I couldn't stand any movement. I was really too sick to get up and go to the doctor so I just suffered through that part for about two weeks. Then I had the nerve damage. With me, it was my arms. It felt like I had tight rubber bands around both of my elbows and my forearms were tingly, numb and cold. It got to the point where I couldn't do anything that involved fine motor skills with my fingers. No playing the flute (I was quite a bit into music then), no typing. After about two lines of typing my arms felt extremely heavy and painful and I couldn't go on. I had to quit my legal secretary job and went to work for corrections because I didn't have to type.

After the headache went away, I did go to the doctor for the arms, but there was really nothing he could do. He said he would have hospitalized me if I had come to him early, now I would just have to wait it out. There was the possibility of permanent damage. It was a frightening time for me.

It took about a year and a half until I could use my fingers again. I had months and months of chiropractic and therapeutic massage, Rolfing, and so on which I think finally got me over the hump.

Having this disease and the subsequent job change completely altered the course of my life, even though I only did corrections for a year. Long story, but the meningitis was definitely a life-changing event.

Best of luck to your nephew. The residual symptoms manifest in many different ways. I will hope for a quick and full recovery for him. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

[rppper]

10. Thank you guys so much!

It's been a trying year in the rppper household. I can't imagine what my niece and sister are going through right now. He's had a bad couple of days. His blood has went septic due to a mrsa infection on his heart valves...they want to operate on his heart but he's still too weak. He was almost dead when he got to the hospital. Are all of these infections common with this? He starts to get better then this happens...this is his 4th day....he's still knocked out and breathing through a tube....I hope it's a good day for him today....

Thanks again y'all!

[cynannmarie]

11. I had meningitis in the 90s

It came on super suddenly--ferocious headache and fever. Thought I would die, the headache was so bad --and I don't typically get bad headaches. Went to ER, had spinal tap and massive antibiotics (I guess mine was bacterial) and was ok after a few days. But it was very scary. Drs warned me that it is common to feel depressed after a meningitis episode, but I did not feel that at all. Felt a wonderful natural high, actually, to have my well being restored with a full recovery. I am grateful to this day.

I am so sorry your nephew is going through what sounds like a horrible experience--my sympathies to you and them.

[rug]

12. My daughter had meningitis as an infant.

Without further tests they couldn't tell if it was bacterial or viral so as a precaution they started her on antibiotics. They explained to me that bacterial is far more dangerous but is treatable. That's why they started the antibiotics. They told me that viral meningitis isn't easily treatable but is far less dangerous. This was 20 years ago so things may have changed.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. This is what I've heard, as well,

especially with young children. I know of two toddlers who died within a couple of days of contracting bacterial meningitis. Viral is less lethal, but it often causes residual nerve damage, sometimes blindness, hearing loss, etc.

[sakabatou]

14. I possibly did. Encephalitis to be exact

I still have scarring and seizures.

[rppper]

15. Today was a real bad day....

I try not to be negative about all of this, but he took a severe downturn yesterday. He had a stroke late Saturday morning. He has brain activity but for all purposes the tubes and wires are keeping him alive. His mrsa infection got worse on top of that. The doctors aren't very optimistic about his chances for the next 24 hours. I hurt for his mom, my oldest niece, who was basically my little sister growing up, and my older sister. I've got a daughter my nephews age...22....they don't have a clue how he even contracted it. I am hopeful for the best but ready for the worst.

I'll continue to update, it helps me. I've lost a lot of people I know and love this year. Thank you all again for your words, stories an support.

[bench scientist]

16. rppper so sorry to hear that

Viral meningitis can be caused by a number of different viruses and etiological agent( what kind of virus) is identified in only about 10% of all cases. Some viruses can be vector borne , transmitted mostly by mosquitoes or other arthropods, while others are via fecal/ oral transmission, respiratory droplets or direct contact with mucous membranes.

Unfortunately you'll probably never know how he got it and unless has been typed as a herpes virus there are no effective antiviral drugs that will work. (Acyclovir only works for Herpes viruses).

That said please don't give up hope- my Mom got Herpes Viral encephalitis and went into a coma, the doctors weren't optimistic either. ( basically told us she be dead within a day). She's still alive 10 years later and doing well.
I'm sending you positive vibes to you and yours.

Peace
bench

[Granny M]

17. Oh, no. So sorry to hear he's taken such a bad turn.

Sending healing thoughts, and hoping for the best. Please do keep us informed.