PECULIARITIES AT CLINICAL COURSE AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS OF THE MOST COMMON VIRAL INFECTIONS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Abstract

Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are highly varied and in many cases difficult for diagnostics. Recently they have become more frequent in the practice of the specialists in infectious diseases and general medicine. Sometimes they had a motley clinical spectrum in other cases they were so similar that their appearance was a big challenge for clinicians. The aim of this presentation was to clarify the peculiarities in clinical course and prognostic factors of some of the most widespread viral CNS infections. In Bulgaria, 400 cases of viral infections of the CNS were registered per annum. The most prevalent of them were caused by Enteroviruses. Encephalitis, caused by Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) was associated with high mortality and severe residual complications in survivors. VZV provoked benign encephalitis with cerebellitis. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis was characterized with long-lasting meningeal signs and combined with some psychological deviations and focal neurological disorders. Influenza virus rare but serious affected CNS with convulsions, psychotic expressions, stupor and coma. Prognosis for the severity of viral infections of the CNS was dependent on age, immune status, neurological predisposition and virulence of the etiological agent. Some peculiarities at laboratorial findings, as well as the delaying of specific etiological therapy were important prognostic factors for bad outcome.

Keywords

• viral infections of CNS
• peculiarities
• prognostic factors