What types of viruses cause meningitis?
Viral meningitis is usually an uncommon complication of some common viral illnesses. For example, measles, mumps, chicken pox, herpes simplex, enteroviruses and some arboviruses may occasionally cause viral meningitis. Measles and mumps are now very rare causes of viral meningitis due to vaccination programs. Chicken pox can also be prevented by vaccination. Enteroviruses, such as echoviruses and coxsackie viruses, are the commonest cause of viral meningitis. Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that live in peoples intestines. Enteroviruses can be passed between people through contact with respiratory secretions or through poor personal hygiene. It is for this reason that enterovirus infections occur most commonly in preschool-aged children. However very few people who are exposed to enteroviruses become ill, and if they do develop symptoms these are usually mild such as sore throat, flu like symptoms, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye and eyelids) or skin rashes. Enteroviruses
