Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: Viral Meningoencephalitis???

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Neurology - General


I am seeking some advice from an unbiased party regarding a virus that attacks the CNS. Five months ago I woke up with vertigo and was taken to the hospital later that day for fainting spells and blackouts. Over the course of the next few weeks, my condition got worse, and I suffered from neck pains, photophobia, myalgias, pains at the back of my head, sound sensitivity, joint pains, tinitus, disorientation, confusion, inability to concentrate, fatigue/malaise, a facial palsey, numbness and tingling in my extremities, fever, tightening of the throat, eye twitching, eye tearing, visual disturbances, sore throat, swollen glands, head aches, and arthritis type feelings in my fingers, to name a few symptoms. After a barage of tests were run on me, including 4 MRI's of the brain and brain stem, 2 MRAngiograms, an EEG, an EKG, tons of lab work from blood and urine samples, no diagnosis was made. I had seen 2 neurologists, 2 internal med. drs., 1 neurosurgeon, an ER Dr., and my family Dr. No one could diagnose me. Finally, at the advice of my family Dr., I took my records, test results and films to a Dr. who knew nothing of my case, and asked him what he thought (Internal Medicine Dr.). It was textbook to him, he looked at me and began laughing. He said without a doubt I am suffering from Viral Meningitis, and I may have had a bout of encephalitis thrown in for good measure. I have gotten better since my worst symptoms in September, but I am not out of the woods yet and still have setbacks/flareups of some of the symptoms that came on later as opposed to the earlier symptoms. My questions are as follows: This Dr. told me that viral meningitis takes 6 - 12 months to resolve - is this accurate??? Also, does this sound like a viral infection of the CNS? I would appreciate a response, and thank you for reading this.

Dear Michael:

Your symptoms could well have been from a viral meningoencephalitis, but I see a crucial bit of information missing - how did your spinal fluid look?
Was it done?

Viral meningitis resolves within several days to a few weeks.
Residuals of encephalitis can be permanent, although most improve with time.

You are welcome to the Cleveland Clinic for a third opinion. Appointments can be made by calling (800)223-2273, or (216)444-5559 locally.

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