DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am writing to ask you to discuss viral meningitis, which I had. I have no idea how it affects a person.

I am 80 years young. When I got this illness, I had a temperature of 106. The doctor’s opinion was that I would not live. I was in intensive care for three days, and then spent two weeks in a regular hospital bed.

I don’t feel like I used to. This happened in the fall of 2010. I am tired, cry easily and get angry easily. I wasn’t able to write for a while, but I can now. The doctor said to give it a year. — M.B.

ANSWER: The meninges are the brain’s covering. Meningitis is an inflammation of those coverings, most often due to an infection by a bacterium or a virus. Meningitis is a serious matter. Its seriousness hinges on the specific bacterium or virus causing the infection. Since the meninges are so intimately involved with the brain, the brain bears some of the brunt of the infection.

Viral meningitis starts with a fever, stiff neck and headache. Confusion is common, and the person might even slip into a coma. Since the number of viruses is large, it’s hard to give a generalized picture of viral meningitis. Proof of the infection comes from examining the spinal fluid, which contains a high number of white blood cells, the cells that fight infection.

Viral meningitis is usually, but not always, less a threat to health and life than bacterial meningitis. Enterovirus, a virus that lives in the human and animal digestive tracts, is among the common causes of meningitis. How you happened to catch one is something that will never be explained. However, these viruses are found everywhere.

Only a few medicines attack the viral causes of meningitis. Supporting the patient with medicines that keep him or her comfortable, control fever and provide hydration and nutrition often get patients through the illness. Sometimes gamma globulin (immunoglobulin) provides the patient with an edge. Most adults can anticipate full recovery. Your infection was quite severe. You are making good progress. Listen to your doctor. A year is a good target date for you.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I would like to know if the use of the commercial saline nasal washes, used two to three times a day, can cause a spike in your blood pressure. — J.A.

ANSWER: Saline nasal rinses should not cause a rise in blood pressure. You can use them without fear.

If your blood pressure goes up at the time of use, that more likely comes from the body involuntary tensing at the thought of shooting a spurt of saltwater into the nose. The rise in pressure would be quite brief. Or it could come from pain. If the rinse causes pain, stop it.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you describe Berger’s syndrome? Thanks. — R.S.

ANSWER: Berger’s disease also goes by the name of IgA nephropathy. IgA is an antibody produced by the immune system. In most cases, antibodies help the body. In this case, they do not. They deposit in the kidney’s tiny filters, the glomeruli, and cause them to malfunction. For most, this illness progresses slowly. For a few, it leads to kidney failure. Drugs called ACE inhibitors, or ARBS, are used when kidney function deteriorates.

Buerger’s disease, pronounced like the above illness, is an inflammation of arteries in the arms or legs, most often in the legs. It strikes mostly males younger than 40 who are cigarette smokers. Leg involvement causes pain when walking.

Its treatment is abstinence from cigarettes.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.