Viral Meningitis Cases Triple in Southland

Cases of viral meningitis have more than tripled in Southern California this year, health officials reported Friday.

But they said that the surge in the highly infectious, flu-like disease is not a cause for heightened public concern.

This more benign viral form of meningitis, an inflammation of the membrane of the nervous system, sometimes leads to hospitalization for patients who have lost food and fluids through vomiting, experts said. But sufferers nearly always fully recover within a week or so, they said.

“There is a much higher incidence of viral meningitis this year, but it’s still a rare condition,” said Dr. Robert Schechter, a physician at the state Department of Health Services. “Patients should seek care, but they should be assured that this is unlikely to affect their family in the long term.”

Experts blame a particularly virulent strain of meningitis for the increase in cases--especially in Southern California--in 1998.

So far this year, Ventura County’s cases of viral meningitis have increased more than five times over their 1997 level, health officials said, from 16 to 86. Statewide, cases are about double that of last year--up to 1,900 as of Sept. 5.

In all, cases in six large Southern California counties increased from 409 in the first eight months of 1997 to 1,284 over the same period this year. That represents the highest rate of the illness in the region and the state in the 1990s, according to state data.

Orange County had the most cases, 340 through Sept. 5.

“It is cyclical,” said Dr. Hildy Meyers, medical director of the Orange County Health Care Agency. “It is a seasonal occurrence, mostly in the summertime, but it also cycles over a period of years. We don’t really know why that is.”

Cases have increased from 109 to 325 in Los Angeles County, 71 to 313 in San Diego County, 54 to 148 in Riverside County, and 34 to 72 in San Bernardino County.

“These things tend to be very geographic,” said Dr. Robert Levin, health officer in Ventura County. “Illness spreads by proximity. For instance, there’s lots of whooping cough in the Bay Area, but we don’t have much down here. It’s like politics--things are regional.”

The affliction--marked by pounding headaches, stiff necks and nausea--also tends to strike children rather than adults. Of the Ventura County cases analyzed last month, more than a third of the patients were under 18, and none were over 65.

The illness is often passed at school or at day-care facilities.

“It is very difficult to prevent transmission from child to child and from child to family because of the close contact,” said Schechter of state health services. “It’s harder for children to have good hygiene all the time than it is for adults.”

But after peaking in the first two weeks of August, the incidence of new cases leveled off and now appears to be dropping, Levin said.

Unlike the more dangerous bacterial meningitis, which can kill, viral meningitis is an extremely uncomfortable but low-level swelling of the membranes that surround the brain and spiral column.

“This makes you feel horrible when you get it,” Levin said. “But you get better. There are some severe forms of viral meningitis, but this does not appear to be one of them. And luckily they’re very unusual.”

Viral meningitis is commonly spread by airborne viruses that cause fever, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea, officials said.

Viral meningitis cases are probably higher this year statewide because the strain--a so-called echovirus--is so potent, Levin said.

Spread of the virus can be slowed by washing hands with soap and water before eating or cooking and after visiting the restroom--and by not sharing drinking glasses, authorities said.

Although recovery from viral meningitis is usually rapid, doctors said that patients should consult with a physician because the illness could be something more serious and harmful if left untreated.

“They need to distinguish this from the garden variety summer flu and from bacterial meningitis, which would require antibiotic treatment and has a higher risk of long-term damage,” Schechter said.

Levin said patients should at least call their doctors to discuss symptoms.

At home, patients may gain relief by resting, drinking extra fluids and taking over-the-counter painkillers, officials said.

Affected students should stay out of school until they are well, doctors said. Some schools quarantine students with the more serious bacterial meningitis, but viral meningitis is usually taken in stride.

“It’s just a matter of keeping sick kids at home,” Schechter said. “And in a week or two they are as good as new.”

Times staff writer Daniel Yi contributed to this story.