Viruses affecting the CNS Flashcards
Neurotropic virus?
capable of REPLICATING in nerve cells
Neuroinvasive virus?
capable of entering or infecting the CNS
Neurovirulent virus?
capable of causing disease within the nervous system
meningitis?
infection of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord
encephalitis?
an infection of the brain itself
myelitis
an infection of the spinal cord
encaphalomyelitis
both brain and spinal cord infection
primary viral encephalitis/acute viral encephalitis
direct viral infection of the spinal cord and brain. can be focal or diffuse.
secondary encephalitis, aka post-infectious encephalitis
results from complications of a current viral infection that spreads to the brain, usually via the blood
main causative pathogen of viral meningitis?
enteroviruses (enter the body via mouth). also caused by mumps, varicella zoster, influenza, HIV and herpes simplex type II (genital herpes)
main causative pathogen of viral encephalitis?
herpes simplex virus type I and II. rabies virus, arbo viruses (insect-borne viruses), and enteroviruses
how does viral meningitis typically present in patients?
neck stiffness, headache, fever, with or without vomiting and/or photophobia
main causative pathogen of viral encephalitis?
herpes simplex virus type I and II. rabies virus, arbo viruses (insect-borne viruses), and enteroviruses.
(mumps encephalitis may also involve the brain parenchyma, but usually mild).
how does viral meningitis typically present in patients?
neck stiffness, headache, fever, with or without vomiting and/or photophobia
how does viral encephalitis present in patients?
presents like meningitis with neck stiffness, headache and fever. but also develops personality and behavioral changes, seizures, partial paralysis, hallucinations, altered levels of consciousness –>ultimately coma and death