多数病毒性脑膜炎病例的预后很好。然而,成年人患者的头痛和不适感可能持续数周。[9]Rotbart HA, Brennan PJ, Fife KH. Enterovirus meningitis in adults. Clin Infect Dis. 1998;27:896-898.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9798053?tool=bestpractice.com长期性神经损害极其少见,但有报道称婴儿在肠病毒性脑膜炎治愈后出现不易觉察的神经发育缺陷。[51]Wilfert CM, Thompson RJ Jr, Sunder TR, et al. Longitudinal assessment of children with enteroviral meningitis during the first 3 months of life. Pediatrics. 1981;67:811-815.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7232044?tool=bestpractice.com[52]Bedford H, de Louvais J, Halket S, et al. Meningitis in infancy in England and Wales: follow up at age 5 years. BMJ. 2001;323:1-5.http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7312/533http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11546697?tool=bestpractice.com与此相反,随访表明,肠病毒-71 脑膜炎儿童在康复后并未出现神经发育问题。[53]Chang LY, Huang LM, Gau SS, et al. Neurodevelopment and cognition in children after enterovirus 71 infection. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:1226-1234.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa065954#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17377160?tool=bestpractice.com
病毒性脑膜炎可能复发。肠病毒感染会引起保护性免疫但不能预防来自其他血清型的感染。HSV-2 脑膜炎可在约 20% 的患者中复发。[15]Bergstrom T, Vahlne A, Alestig K, et al. Primary and recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2-induced meningitis. J Infect Dis. 1990;162:322-330.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2165105?tool=bestpractice.com复发性良性淋巴细胞性脑膜炎(又称 Mollaret 脑膜炎)是一种罕见疾病,由病毒感染引起。