Proper hygiene is critical
Viral meningitis differs from bacterial meningitis in that the viral form of meningitis is more common and less serious, arising from the spread of a viral illness to the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Antibiotics do not work to fight the virus, and many patients improve without intervention. Some do require hospital admission for observation and medical treatment, however. There are ways to protect against and prevent viral meningitis in children and adults, beginning with good hygiene to prevent the spread of viruses. Here's prevent meningitis.
Instructions
1. Practice meticulous sanitation and personal hygiene for yourself and family members. Teach children proper hand washing techniques and to wash their hands before eating, every time. Help them learn not to touch their eyes, mouth, or nose while in public places or after returning home before scrubbing their hands. One of the primary causes of viral meningitis is getting a virus through contact with an infected person, so guarding against this is the first step.
2. Evaluate which vaccinations to get in order to decrease your likelihood of catching a virus that could lead to meningitis. While vaccinations have side effects and may not always work, doctors still recommend getting the HIB, measles, mumps, polio, meningococcus and pneumococcus vaccines as a guard against meningitis caused by the diseases. Which vaccines you get will depend on your doctor's recommendations and your own research.
3. Clean all utilized surfaces in your house and office daily, including the bathroom, kitchen, desk, keyboard and anything that comes in contact with people's hands. This is especially important for cutting down on the spread of viruses during the winter months when sickness is prevalent. use hot soap and water, and keep kitchen cloths and scrubbing pads separate from cleaning materials for the bathroom. Clean borrowed items before use, even if it's just a pen from your cube mate.
4. Build up your immune system to help your body fight off diseases and keep infections from becoming serious or turning into meningitis. Eating well (think whole, nourishing foods) and avoiding immune-suppressing sugar will help tremendously.
5. Contact your doctor if you suspect viral meningitis so that you can be observed and teated if necessary. If you do have meningitis, prompt treatment is important for full recovery.
Tags: contact with, meningitis that, spread viruses, their hands, viral meningitis