There is no medication your child can take to cure viral meningitis. Your child will eventually get better on his or her own. This will help avoid dehydration. Your child may need acetaminophen or ibuprofen for his or her headache and body aches. Do not give aspirin.
Bacterial meningitis is a serious, life-threatening illness.
Children with bacterial meningitis may recover without any problems if the infection was detected within the first few hours and treated with antibiotics. Even with treatment, the child could suffer some degree of brain damage ranging from deafness to death. The amount of damage will depend on when the infection is detected and treated. Children with viral meningitis usually recover without any problems. Since different viruses can cause the illness, the length of time it takes a child to feel better can vary from 2 days to 2 weeks.