Central nervous system infection - Definition

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.