viral meningitis

meningitis /men·in·gi·tis/ (men″in-ji´tis) pl. meningi´tides   [Gr.] inflammation of the meninges.meningit´ic

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basilar meningitis  that affecting the meninges at the base of the brain.

cerebral meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the brain.

cerebrospinal meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord.

chronic meningitis  a variable syndrome of prolonged fever, headache, lethargy, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, and vomiting, with pleocytosis; due to a variety of infectious and noninfectious causes.

cryptococcal meningitis  cryptococcosis in which the meninges are invaded by Cryptococcus .

eosinophilic meningitis  meningitis characterized by an increase in lymphocytes and a high percentage of eosinophils in the cerebrospinal fluid, usually due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis  meningococcal m.

meningococcal meningitis  an acute infectious, usually epidemic, disease attended by a seropurulent meningitis, due to Neisseria meningitidis, usually with an erythematous, herpetic, or hemorrhagic skin eruption.

occlusive meningitis  leptomeningitis of children, with closure of the lateral and median apertures of the fourth ventricle.

meningitis ossi´ficans  ossification of the cerebral meninges.

otitic meningitis  that secondary to otitis media.

spinal meningitis  inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord.

tubercular meningitis , tuberculous meningitis severe meningitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

viral meningitis  that due to a virus, e.g., coxsackieviruses, mumps virus, or the virus of lymphocytic choriomeningitis, marked by malaise, fever, headache and other aches, nausea, and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis (mainly lymphocytic); it usually runs a short uncomplicated course.

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viral meningitis,

meningitis caused by various viruses, such as the coxsackieviruses, mumps virus, and the virus of lymphocytic choriomeningitis, characterized by malaise, fever, headache, nausea, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis (principally lymphocytic), abdominal pain, stiffness of the neck and back, and a short uncomplicated course. See also aseptic meningitis.