Meningitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Often, the symptoms of viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis are the same. Most cases of meningitis run short, uneventful courses. Viral meningitis is serious but rarely fatal in persons with normal immune systems. Usually, the symptoms last from 7 to 10 days and the person recovers completely.
Many different viruses can cause meningitis.
Herpes viruses and the mumps virus can also cause viral meningitis. There is no vaccination or treatment for viral meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is of greater concern than viral meningitis, and one type of bacterial meningitis, meningococcal meningitis, is of particularly grave concern. It is caused by meningococcal bacteria, which can also infect the blood. When this bacteria also infects the blood, it is called meningococcal disease.