Treatment for viral meningitis can be done at home and is intended to relieve symptoms such as fever in excess of 38 ° C, neck stiffness, headache or vomiting, as there is no specific antiviral remedy to treat meningitis except when it is caused by the Herpes Zoster virus, in which Acyclovir can be used.
In this way, the neurologist, in the case of the adult, or the pediatrician, in the case of the child, may recommend the ingestion of analgesic drugs to relieve pain and antipyretics to reduce the fever, such as Paracetamol, for example, as well as antiemetic drugs, such as Metoclopramide, to stop vomiting.
During treatment, which lasts 7 to 10 days, it is recommended that the patient stay in bed until the fever decreases below 38ºC and that he drinks about 2 liters of water per day to avoid dehydration.
Viral meningitis, when presented with a mild clinical picture, can be treated at home with rest and medication to control the symptoms because there is no specific remedy to treat this disease.
How To Treat Viral Meningitis At Home
The doctor may recommend the use of analgesics and antipyretics, such as Paracetamol, and vomiting medicines such as Metoclopramide. Some tips for treating viral meningitis at home are:
- Put a towel or cold compress on the forehead to help lower the fever and relieve headaches;
- Take a bath with warm or cold water to help lower the fever;
- Put a warm compress on the back of the neck to relieve stiff neck and headaches;
- Drink the ash tea to lower the fever by placing 500 ml of water together with 5 g of chopped leaves of ash to boil, as this medicinal plant has antipyretic action;
- Drink lavender tea to relieve headaches by placing 10 g of lavender leaves in 500 ml of water, as this medicinal plant has analgesic and relaxing properties;
- Drink ginger tea to relieve nausea and vomiting by boiling 500 ml of water along with 1 tablespoon of ginger, sweetened with honey as ginger helps digestion, reducing nausea and vomiting;
- Drink about 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day, especially if you are vomiting, so you do not dehydrate.
The treatment of viral meningitis usually lasts about 7 to 10 days and it is important that during this the patient has some care to avoid the transmission of meningitis. Care is to wear a mask, do not share food, drinks or personal belongings such as cutlery or toothbrush and wash your hands often.
In severe cases, treatment of viral meningitis should be done at the hospital so that the patient receives medicine and serum through the vein, so as to alleviate the symptoms until the virus is eliminated from the body.
Physiotherapy for viral meningitis
Physiotherapeutic treatment for viral meningitis may be necessary when the patient develops sequelae, such as paralysis or loss of balance, for example through exercises to increase muscle strength and balance recovery, promoting patient autonomy and quality of life. Know the possible Sequelae of meningitis.
Care during treatment
Some care during the treatment of viral meningitis include:
- Wash hands before and after contacting other individuals, before meals and using the toilet;
- Use mask;
- Do not share food, beverages, cutlery, dishes or toothbrushes;
- Avoid intimate contact and kissing.
These precautions prevent the transmission of the disease, which can occur through coughing or sneezing through the air, through the sharing of cups, cutlery, dishes or toothbrushes, for example by intimate contact, kissing or contact with feces of a infected patient. See what else you can do to protect yourself from meningitis.
Signs of improvement
Signs of improvement in viral meningitis include a decrease in fever below 38 ° C, reduced stiffness in the neck and headache, as well as decreased nausea and vomiting.
Signs of worsening
Signs of worsening viral meningitis arise when treatment is not started as soon as possible or is not done properly, and may include decreased muscle strength, increased fever, loss of balance, deafness or loss of vision, for example.
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