Meningococcal meningitis can happen within 24 hours, so it must be treated right away. As with any serious illness, if you're concerned you may have it—contact your health care provider immediately. You may be sent to the hospital if your doctor thinks it's necessary.

If your doctor feels you are at risk, he or she will order a series of tests to decide if the infection is bacterial or viral.

Meningococcal meningitis requires treatment, which can include:

• IV antibiotics
  
  
• IV fluids to replace fluids lost as a result of sweating, vomiting, and poor appetites
  
  
• IV corticosteroids
  
  
• Other medications, depending on how the disease progresses

There isn't a specific treatment for viral meningitis. Viruses don't respond to antibiotics, so doctors typically recommend that patients stay in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take medicine to relieve fever and headache. Most people with viral meningitis recover in about 7 to 10 days—without treatment. If viral meningitis is diagnosed, your doctor will determine a plan of recovery that's right for you.