The most common viral causes of meningitis are coxsackie viruses and echoviruses. Other viruses that can cause meningitis include herpes simplex, mumps, polio and herpes zoster. It is a rare effect of viruses such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus and influenza virus type A or B. Generally viral meningitis is less serious than the bacterial form and indeed in mild cases, people may not even go to their doctor. However those with a more severe form of viral meningitis are likely to be admitted to hospital for tests to determine whether it s a bacterial or viral form of meningitis. Treatment is based on good nursing care.
Antibiotics are of no use in viral meningitis.
TB meningitis is a rare form of meningitis. New-born infants are also susceptible to certain types of bacterial meningitis including those caused by E.coli and group B streptococcus. Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics. The category of bacterial meningitis described below includes all bacterial causes of meningitis together with meningococcal septicaemia. Figure 1 illustrates the total number of bacterial meningitis cases notified in Ireland since 1985.