CNS Infectious Disease Overview

General Considerations

Classification : Infectious diseases can be classified into congenital/neonatal and acquired infections. They can be further subdivided by etiology, i.e., bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, and rickettsial diseases.

Infectious diseases can have different manifestations depending on disease acuity. Some diseases like herpes encephalitis are typically acute and fulminant. Others are subacute or chronic [e.g., subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and Rasmussen encephalitis].