VIRAL MENINGITIS

(Benign Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis)

AETIOLOGY

VIRAL MENINGITIS…..| Meningeal involvement with inflammation may develop in cases of acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis, mumps, glandular fever, poliomyelitis, psittacosis, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, vericella, HIV infection, louping ill and infection with Coxsackie, Epstein-Barr and ECHO viruses.Of these first one accounts for about 50% of the total cases.

CLINICAL FEATURES

Same as meningitis. Co-existing virus infection may be seen somewhere else, e.g. enlargement of parotid glands in mumps or herpes vesicles in herpes or lung inflammation in atypical pneumonia.

INVESTIGATIONS

CSF may show increased tension, colour of fluid is either clear or turbid and there will be increased cells mainly lymphocytes 500-3000/cmm. Protein is increased but sugar level remains normal. Complement fixing antibodies may appear in the blood in the 2nd week. Virus may be isolated from blood and CSF

PROGNOSIS

Good. Average duration is 4-10 days.

TREATMENT