How the disease is transmitted depends on the specific type of virus involved. Children can sometimes get viral meningitis following infection with mumps or herpesvirus . The symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat and a general feeling of not being well. This is followed, usually within a day, by stiffness of the neck and back, nausea, and vomiting, especially in children. These symptoms typically fade 3 to 7 days after onset.
Most patients recover completely from viral meningitis.
The onset of symptoms varies depending on the specific virus involved, but the onset commonly occurs within 7 days of infection with the virus. There are no specific medicines available to treat viral meningitis. Wash the hands thoroughly after using the toilet and especially before preparing or eating food.