Which Viruses Cause Neck Pain?

Neck pain is a common complaint among people of all ages, and it can have a wide range of causes, including viral infections. While most viral infections that cause neck pain are not serious and can be treated with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers, some can be more severe and require medical attention. In this article, we'll explore some of the viruses that can cause neck pain, their symptoms, and treatment options. If you're experiencing neck pain and suspect it may be due to a viral infection, keep reading to learn more. 

Can Viral Infections Cause Neck Pain?

Viruses aren't friendly foes. These microscopic jerks may even be the cause of your current neck pain.

Neck pain is a common symptom of viral meningitis, which, in rare cases, can lead to premature death if left untreated. Thus, it's important to recognize the signs and symptoms so people can get help immediately.

What Is Viral Meningitis?

Viral meningitis is a neurological condition caused by a virus. Viruses that cause it include COVID-19, the flu, chickenpox, and certain types of herpes.

Viral meningitis is also known for swelling the brain and spinal cord linings, causing discomfort and pain around the neck. Like any other infection, it affects mainly people with weakened immune systems.

If caught early, the probability of overcoming the infection is pretty high, as long as the patient gets adequate treatment.

What Does Viral Meningitis Neck Pain Feel Like?

Neck pain from meningitis is caused by swelling in the back of the neck. The swelling puts pressure on the nerves in the neck, causing soreness.

Moreover, this pain may be constant or intermittent and often worsens with movement. Neck pain due to viral meningitis is also often accompanied by a fever, headache, and neck stiffness.

How Is Viral Meningitis Diagnosed?

A doctor can tell if there's anything wrong with the joints and muscles around the neck. They can also assess how severe it is. Patients should also expect to answer questions like, "When did this start?" and "How often do you experience these problems?"

Doctors will also look for physical signs of meningitis by looking at a patient's reflexes. They usually look for the Brudzinski's sign given its industry consensus.

Furthermore, patients undergo lab tests to confirm the presence of viruses through biochemical screening tests. If a doctor thinks a patient has meningitis, he or she may take samples by:

• Swabbing your throat or nose
• Getting a tool sample
• Taking blood
• Taking fluid from the area around the spinal cord

What Is Brudzinski's Sign?

Brudzinski's sign is a test used to diagnose meningitis. It may sound like the name of James Bond's arch-nemesis, but rest assured, it's only here to help.

It starts with a physician asking the patient to lie on their back. Then, the physician puts one hand on the patient's chest and the other hand behind the patient's neck. The physician continues by pulling the head forward and checks if the knees and hips bend.

The test is positive when the patient bends their knees and hips during passive neck flexion. If they do not bend, it is a negative sign and means that this person does not have meningitis.

Treatment for Viral Meningitis

Treating viral meningitis doesn't have to be a strenuous task. Just staying home and avoiding crowds as much as possible will increase the likelihood of making a full recovery. Most people get better on their own without further treatment.

The virus should run its course in about ten days. Although, some people may still have lingering effects from the illness (like fatigue) for a few weeks.

Call a doctor immediately if symptoms worsen after a week of home treatment with over-the-counter pain medicines like acetaminophen. Doctors may prescribe stronger painkillers, antivirals, or other medications, to ensure a fast recovery.

What's the Outlook for People Who Have Viral Meningitis?

The outlook for people who have viral meningitis is variable. Most people have mild infections and recover quickly. However, others suffer severe infections, leading to irreversible neurological problems.

It's vital to seek medical attention if there's any suspicion of viral meningitis infection. If caught early, the chances of getting better increase substantially. However, if ignored, a person may develop severe complications, including:

• Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
• Hearing loss
• Problems with balance and walking
• Light sensitivity

Is Neck Pain a Sign of COVID-19?

Neck pain is a common symptom of COVID-19, with research suggesting that 11-62.5% of people with the virus experience it. Nonetheless, it's important to consult a doctor if someone is unsure of the origin of their neck pain. The symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to those of the common cold, so it's not uncommon for people to mistake the source of their sickness for the flu.

Ugh! When will we stop suffering the consequences of these micro-scumbags?!

What Does COVID-19 Neck Pain Feel Like?

COVID-19 can cause neck pain that ranges from mild to severe. The pain is often described as tingling, burning, or stabbing.

The pain is often mild and goes away on its own. However, it can develop into a more severe complication if left untreated. 

Joint pain is also commonly reported among those with COVID-19 affecting up to 15% of patients. A study in 2022 compared symptoms between Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 and found that more than 40% of the patients reported joint pains.

There is currently no cure for COVID-19 neck pain, but treatments exist that can help relieve the symptoms.

How Is COVID-19 Diagnosed?

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was filled with Zoom calls, isolation, and tragedies, it made the testing process easier than ever.

Nowadays, there are several diagnostic facilities around cities. Herein, people take either an antigen or PCR test. These two differ in accuracy, cost, and the overall time it takes to obtain the results. 

Antigen tests are significantly faster than PCR tests. Depending on the facilities it can take as little as 15 minutes to get the results. Antigen tests are also cheaper since they require simpler technology and less-trained health workers. 

On the other hand, PCR results can take a few hours to a week, depending on how busy the diagnosing facility is. They are also notably more expensive, with an average price of over $100. Lastly, PCR tests are considered more accurate due to their technique of detection. 

Despite their differences, most people agree that taking them is not the most comfortable and pleasant experience. In both scenarios, a swab needs to be introduced deep inside the nose of the person. Then, the swab must be rubbed against the nose wall to collect as much viral material as possible. 

So which one is better? Well, it depends. 

Most companies will prefer a negative PCR result over an Antigen result due to the difference in accuracy. However, if speed and money are factors, then the Antigen test is the way to go. 

Treatment for Neck Pain and COVID-19

Neck pain caused by COVID-19 infection can often be relieved by resting and avoiding strenuous activity. Bed rest is usually recommended for people with mild to moderate symptoms. However, if symptoms are severe or do not improve with home treatment, people should seek medical care. 

Doctors usually prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to relieve pain and fever. Furthermore, a doctor may also prescribe antiviral medications. These drugs stop viral replication in several ways, such as:

• Stopping viruses from getting inside the body 
• Blocking the activity of proteins and enzymes that make infections worse 
• Preventing viral mutations 

Antiviral therapy works best before the illness gets to a hyper-inflammatory state. Thus, patients should take in the early stages of the infection.  

In some instances, people develop severe symptoms due to the viral infection. When so, doctors recommend immediate hospitalization to ensure the patient's well-being and prevent viral propagation. 

What's the Outlook for People Who Have COVID-19?

COVID-19 generally has a positive outlook; however, symptoms can vary from person to person. Research shows that treatment responses differ depending on the person's lifestyle, age, and medical history. 

Some people develop long COVID even after their SARS-CoV-2 infection clears; scientists are unsure why this happens. Moreover, the aftermath of the infection includes:

• Pulmonary complications 
• Cardiovascular issues 
• Blood abnormalities 
• Renal problems 
• Central nervous system disturbances 
• Gastrointestinal strain

Takeaway

Neck pain is not always related to poor posture or stress. Sometimes viruses hijack the body's immune system, developing harmful infections.

Viral meningitis is a rare but severe complication that causes inflammation and swelling around the neck. If there are any signs of infection, take a week off, avoid crowds, and get plenty of rest.

In most cases, the body's immune system will battle the virus. However, if there are no improvements after ten days, talk to your doctor ASAP.