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MS relationship with Viral Meningitis and/or Mono

I have had some medical issues over the years and currently going through some test to find out what is wrong.

In 1989 I have Viral Meningitis.  I went to the hospital on a Thursday evening with a bad headache and fever.  They diagnosed me with a migraine (which I knew it wasn't since I get them all the time), and sent me home Friday.  They did do a spinal tap and said it was negative.  Monday the hospital called me back and said someone else read it and it was positive for Viral Meningitis.  I was admitted on Monday and was discharged on Friday.  I also had Mono in October of 87.

One neurologist seen me and believed I had MS based on several MRI's of my brain and spine over several years, but never confirmed it.  I was reading and found in different places that both of these conditions I have listed can be a possible cause for MS.  Is there anything documented that shows a percentage of MS patients also had Mono and/or Viral Meningitis?

Along those lines, what could be a long term effect, if any, since my Meningitis was left without treatment for several days?

I understand you cannot provide any diagnosis here.  I am just looking for information, statistics or any other information which may link these as well as possible effects of leaving Viral Meningitis untreated for almost 4 days.

Thank you for your time
Regards,
Jim
3 Responses
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987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER

Hi Jim and welcome to our little MS community,

As already mentioned, there hasn't been a definitive association established with anything, lots of theories but so far none of the theories have been proven. Mono is a very common condition throughout the general population, stats are around 90% but there are no where near that many MSers. Twin studies have failed to find definitive genetic, viral or environmental associations. I believe the only thing that is agreed upon, is that 'something' is a catalyst that sets off the abnormal autoimmune response but what that is nothing is clear.......

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/information/publications/msexplained/possible_causes.jsp

I think it's probably a weak link, if your trying to work out if having viral meningitis 35 years ago, could of caused what your currently dealing with. At this stage you don't know if you do have MS or not because you said your going through some testing to find out what is wrong. The diagnostic process can take a long time to work out, there are a lot of medical conditions that also cause similar symptoms to MS, not all are neurological conditions and it may be better to not focus on any particular condition at this point in time.....

Cheers...........JJ
Helpful - 0
5112396 tn?1378017983
There actually isn't a specific treatment for viral meningitis. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
"In most cases, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Most people who get viral meningitis completely recover on their own within 7 to 10 days. However, people with meningitis caused by certain viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza, may benefit from treatment with an antiviral medication."

http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
They haven't found any definite links between viral infections and MS. They've seen several correlations between common viruses and MS, but nothing has pointed directly at one disease more than the other.

At any rate, leaving the meningitis untreated for 4 days would cause some neurogical problems, but it wouldn't cause MS.
Helpful - 0
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