Central Nervous System Infections in Pediatric Age Group

Abstract

Acute infection of the central nerves system (CNS) is the most

. cmmnon cause of fever associated with signs and symptoms of CNS

disease in children ( Johnson 1998 ).

Infection may be caused by virtually any microbe. The specific pathogen being influenced by the age and itrunune status of the host and the epidemiology of the pathogen ( Saez-Llorens et al. 1990 ).

In general, viral infections of the CNS are much more common than bacterial infection, which in tum are more common than fi.mgal and parasitic infections. ( Kennard et al. "1981 ).

Bacterial meningitis is one of the most potentially serious i..'lfections in infants and older children. This infection is associated with a high rate of acute complications and risk of chronic morbidity ( Schuchat et al. 1997 ).

Viral meningoencephalitis is an acute inflammatory process involving the meninges and to a variable dq,rrce, brain tissue. These infections arc relatively common and may be caused by a number of different agents (Rorabaugh et al. 1993 ).

Tuberculosis of the central nervous system is the most common cause of death and long-term disability in childhood infection ( Vallejo et al. 1994 ).