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Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) is usually secondary to viral infection. Other brain infections include brain abscesses, helminthic infections, prion diseases (see see Prion Diseases), and subdural empyema. Meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord—see Meningitis), cytomegalovirus infection (see Herpesviruses: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection), and HIV infection (see Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)) can also affect the brain. Slow virus infections, such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (see Brain Infections: Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)), caused by JC virus, or subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, caused by the measles virus, are characterized by a long incubation and a prolonged course. Slow virus infection involving the rubella virus is now very rare in the US.
Last full review/revision December 2009 by Michael Jacewicz, MD
Content last modified December 2009
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