The organisms that infect the CNS itself (the brain and the spinal cord) are mainly viruses and bacteria, but fungi and protozoa, such as Toxoplasma and amoebae, do occasionally invade the CNS. The central nervous system is a target for a large number of viral infections. The major viruses associated with CNS infection include members of the Picornaviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Herpesviridae, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Reoviridae, Retroviridae, and Papovaviridae families.Viruses can initiate central nervous system (CNS) diseases that include demyelination and inflammation as a major feature of neuropathology. There are no. of viral CNS diseases such as viral meningitis, viral encephalitis, Acute viral myelitis, poliomyelitis etc.Identifying the agent responsible for suspected cases of viral central nervous system (CNS) infection poses tremendous diagnostic challenges. Advanced diagnostic techniques such as neuroimaging, serology, virus culture and antigen detection, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are use.Now days along with Qualitative PCR-methods, quantitative, real time PCR and multiplex detection are also available.In treatment of Herpes virus Acyclovir, Vidarabin, Interferon-a are used. For CMV infections Gancyclovir, Foscarnet are used. For Paramyxo virus symptomatic treatment is only available. For Enterovirus, Pleconaril an orally active agent is used. In treatment of HIV: Antiretroviral drugs- Zidovudine, Didanosine, Stavudine are used. Also HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) can be helpful.
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