We want to revisit something that serious that happened last week in Sioux Falls. A baby at a Sioux Falls daycare came down with viral meningitis. We talked to an Infectious Disease Specialist at Avera McKennan to find out more on the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis.

When you hear the word meningitis, especially if you are parent, a rush of worry runs through your body. Both forms of meningitis are serious, but bacterial is life-threatening.

On Monday August 18th, the parents of an infant girl who was attending the Youth Enrichment Services River Crossing Childcare Center thought she had an ear infection that wouldn't go away. They asked administrators what they should do, they said to take her to the doctor right away. That night she was admitted in the hospital and it was confirmed the next day she had viral meningitis.

Avera Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Aris Assimacopoulos says, "It's really just an inflammation of the lining around the brain that's caused by a virus. More people are familiar with the more life-threatening bacterial meningitis caused by a bacteria. Viral is serious but less dangerous and typically self-limiting. It gets better on it's on."

According to the CDC, meningitis can have several causes; usually it's caused by a bacterial or viral infection and several types of bacteria or viruses can be responsible. Besides being life-threatening, bacterial meningitis can have serious after-effects such as brain damage, hearing loss and learning disabilities. Like the cold virus, viral meningitis has no treatment.

Dr. Assimacopoulos says, "It's supportive care. If they can't handle the pain, we give them something for that in the hospital. If they are getting dehydrated or can't eat, we give them fluids intravenously.

Dr. Assimacopoulos says really there isn't a lot you can do to protect yourself against viral meningitis other than practicing good hand washing and avoiding contact with someone known to have contracted the disease.