Author: MJ Aminoff, DA Greenberg, RP Simon
Support information on page: Infectious States & Seizures > Viral infections
| Virus |
Central Nervous
System Syndrome |
Geographic
Distribution |
Route/Vector |
Freqency |
| DNA viruses: |
| Herpes viruses |
| Herpes simplex virus 1 |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human contact, fluids |
+++ |
| Meningitis |
| Herpes simplex virus 2 |
Encephalitis (neonates) |
Worldwide |
Human contact |
+ |
| Meningitis |
| Varicella-zoster virus |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human respiratory, contact |
++ |
| Meningitis |
| Cytomegalovirus |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human contact, fluids |
++ |
| Epstein-Barr virus |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human saliva |
+ |
| Meningitis |
| Human herpesvirus 6 |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human contact |
Unknown |
| Febrile seizures |
Adenoviridae |
| Adenovirus |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human respiratory |
+ |
| Meningitis |
Papovavirus |
| Jamestown Canyon virus |
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy |
Worldwide |
Unknown |
+ |
RNA viruses: |
| Upper respiratory viruses |
| Influenza |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human respiratory |
+ |
| Exanthematous viruses viruses |
| Measles |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human respiratory |
++ |
| Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis |
| Mumps |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human respiratory |
+++ |
| Meningitis |
Rhabdoviridae |
| Rabies |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Animal bite |
+++ |
Picornaviridae (enterovirus) |
| Echovirus |
Meningo-
encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Fecal-oral |
+++ |
| Coxsackie |
Meningo-
encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Fecal-oral |
+++ |
| Polio |
Meningitis |
Worldwide |
Fecal-oral |
Rare where vaccinated |
Arboviruses |
| Bunyaviridae |
| California encephalitis virus |
Encephalitis |
North America |
Mosquito |
+++ |
| Meningitis |
Alphavirus |
| Eastern equine encephalitis |
Encephalitis |
United States, Caribbean, South America |
Mosquito |
+ |
| Meningitis |
| Western equine encephalitis |
Encephalitis |
Western/Central United States, South America |
Mosquito |
++ |
| Meningitis |
Flaviviridae |
| Japanese encephalitis |
Encephalitis |
China, southeast Asia, India |
Mosquito |
++++ |
| Meningitis |
| St. Louis encephalitis |
Encephalitis |
United States, Caribbean, South America |
Mosquito |
+++ |
| Meningitis |
| West Nile encephalitis |
Encephalitis |
Middle East, Africa, United States |
Mosquito |
++ |
| Meningitis |
Retroviruses |
| Human immunodeficiency virus 1 |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Human blood, semen |
++ |
| Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus |
Encephalitis |
Worldwide |
Rodent |
+ |
| Meningitis |
+ = infrequent; ++ = occasional; +++ = common; ++++ = very common
MJ Aminoff, DA Greenberg, RP Simon, Clinical Neurology, Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange, 1996;29-30; KA Cassady, RJ Whitley, Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology of Viral Infections of the Central Nervous System. In WM Scheld, RJ Whitley, DT Durack (eds), Infections of the Central Nervous System. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven, 1997; 7-22.
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