Can i have meningitis without a fever

Two weeks previously I had had a bad dose of flu, probably the worst I have ever had, and was off work for a week. The ambulance arrived a few minutes later and took me to hospital. On arrival they tried to give me painkiller tablets but I felt too sick to take them, and was given morphine in liquid form. Within an hour of being in hospital I had had a brain scan.

Meningitis had not crossed my mind at this point. I think they all shone a torch in my eyes and asked me if the light affected me. I think, meningitis or not, if you are feeling that ill with a severe headache, a torch shone in your eyes would be uncomfortable.

I was aware of the symptoms of meningitis , and assumed their references to light and rash were to exclude meningitis. When the results of my scan came back normal, they said I would need to have a lumbar puncture. It was explained to me that this would be performed 12 hours after my onset of symptoms, because if there was any bleeding i. By mid afternoon I was moved to a ward and starting to feel a bit better. The lumbar puncture was performed at about 7pm and I was told the results would be ready by midnight.

This was a Friday, so by the evening I guess only weekend staff were on duty. By this time I was feeling fine and assuming I would be allowed home.

I was up and about, no headache, and eating normally. I was told I needed to stay in hospital another night whilst they did further tests. On the Sunday morning I woke up feeling dreadful and could not lift my head off the pillow. I had a severe headache and my head felt so heavy and uncoordinated, a really strange feeling. On Monday morning, still feeling dreadful, a doctor came around and informed me I had viral meningitis. I was told to go home and rest, and that it may take up to a month until I felt better.

A friend came to pick me up from hospital and had to double check with the staff that I was allowed home. I think she was shocked that I was being allowed home when I was struggling to even sit up in bed. Walking to her car took so much effort and I really struggled to sit upright for the two mile journey home. I remember sitting in the passenger seat and trying to put my head down as low as possible.

Antiviral medicine may help people with meningitis caused by viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza. Antibiotics do not help viral infections, so they are not useful in the treatment of viral meningitis.

However, antibiotics do fight bacteria, so they are very important when treating bacterial meningitis. People who develop severe illness, or are at risk for developing severe illness, may need care in a hospital.

There are no vaccines available in the United States to protect against non-polio enteroviruses, which are the most common cause of viral meningitis.

The best way to help protect yourself and others from non-polio enterovirus infections is to. Vaccines can protect against some diseases, such as measles, mumps, chickenpox, and influenza, which can lead to viral meningitis.

Make sure you and your child are vaccinated on schedule. Control mice and rats. If you have a rodent in or around your home, follow appropriate cleaning and control precautions.

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Viral Meningitis. If so, the doctor will recommend a spinal tap. There is no way to diagnose meningitis without a spinal tap. The dreaded spinal tap also called a Lumbar Puncture — no parent ever wants their child to undergo a spinal tap. Many parents fear it can cause paralysis. Every doctor performs several dozen during their training years.

ER doctors perform as many as or more each year. Ask the doctor how many he or she has done. Why do a spinal tap to find an infection in the brain? So the spinal fluid reflects what is occurring in the brain. Here is what happens during a spinal tap:.

Sounds painful? Well, if numbed up properly, then there is little pain.