Neurologic Viral Diseases
The central nervous system (CNS) is protected by a highly complex barrier system, yet a wide variety
of viruses still manage to gain access and induce disease. In fact, the number CNS viral infections
each year is greater than all bacterial, fungal, and protozoa infections combined. Following CNS
infection, inflammation can arise in distinct anatomical regions such as the meninges (meningitis),
brain (encephalitis), and spinal cord (myelitis), or simultaneously in multiple regions
(meningoencephalitis, encephalomyelitis).
Transmission
Neuroinfectious diseases transmitted by viruses may cause a broad spectrum of neurological presentations such as meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, Guillian-Barré-like-syndromes as well as strokes. Often these patients are left with severe neurological sequelae.
Symptoms
Characteristics of a viral infection can include pain, swelling, redness, impaired function, fever, drowsiness, confusion and convulsions.
