From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|Classification and external resources|
Most cases are caused by enteroviruses (common stomach viruses). However, there is evidence that other viruses can also cause viral meningitis. For instance, West Nile virus, mumps, measles, herpes simplex types I and II, varicella, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus.
In the United States 1988-1999, about 36,000 cases of viral meningitis are newly occurred each year. This disease can occur in both children and adult depending on specific viruses and epidemic area. For example an outbreak reported in Romania 1996, viral meningitis is more common among adults, as well as a 9-year Spanish study, it was more often seen in patients aged 15 years or older (66.1%; mean 30.2 yo). While, patients aged younger than 15 (mean 5.9 yo) was seen 33.8% of all cases. In contrast to a study in Finland 1966 and the outbreaks in Cyprus 1996, Gaza 1997, China 1998 and Taiwan 1998, the incidences of viral meningitis were more common among children.
CausesCausative organisms include:
- 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 and shingles (herpes zoster)
- 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)
- St. Louis Encephalitis virus
- West Nile virus