Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
CNS infections
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Central nervous system infections are those infections of the central nervous system (CNS). There are four main causes of infections of the nervous system: bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoal. Bacterial infections can be pyogenic infections (e.g., meningitis; brain abscess; subdural and epidural abscesses), tuberculosis, neurosyphilis, or leprosy. Viral infections may be meningitis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis, slow virus infections, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and post-infectious syndromes. Fungal infections may be meningitis or meningoencephalitis, brain abscess, or spinal epidural infection. Protozoal infections include toxoplasmosis, malaria or amoebic infection.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]