These symptoms are often difficult to identify in infants, who may become irritable, lethargic, inconsolable or refuse to eat. Viral meningitis is rarely fatal, unlike bacterial meningitis, which often presents with the same symptoms. Symptoms generally appear between 3 to 7 days after exposure. The symptoms usually last 7 to 10 days and the person recovers completely. Anyone can get viral meningitis but it occurs most often in children.
Most cases occur in late summer and early autumn.
Occasionally, viral meningitis is also associated with mumps or herpes virus infections. Because a number of different viruses are capable of causing viral meningitis, the manner in which the virus is spread depends upon the type of virus involved. You can usually spread the virus to someone else beginning about 3 days after you are infected until about 10 days after you develop symptoms. Enteroviruses, which cause most cases of viral meningitis, are contagious. Fortunately, most people exposed to these viruses experience mild or no symptoms.