Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis refers to meningitis caused by a viral infection. It is sometimes referred to as "aseptic meningitis" in contrast to meningitis caused by bacteria.

An example is lymphocytic choriomeningitis.

Viral meningitis is most commonly caused by enteroviruses.

Causative organisms include:

• Enteroviruses
  • Poliovirus (PV1, PV2, PV3)
  • Coxsackie A virus (CVA); also causes Hand foot and mouth disease
• Herpesviridae (HHV)
  • Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1 / HHV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2 / HHV-2); also cause cold sores or genital herpes
  • Varicella zoster (VZV / HHV-3); also causes chickenpox
  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV / HHV-4); also causes infectious mononucleosis/"mono"
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV / HHV-5)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); causes AIDS
• La Crosse virus
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
• Measles
• Mumps
• St. Louis Encephalitis virus
• West Nile virus