Viral Encephalitis through years A changing panorama, a review

Encephalitis, an infectious or inflammatory process in the brain tissue, mainly caused by a virus, is a disease of children and young adults but may appear at any age. The picture has been changing along with vaccination and new emerging viruses, and along with therapeutic regimens, especially immunosuppression. Conventional childhood viruses, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), are replaced by West Nile fever and by threat of new influenza strains. DNA detection, especially multiplex PCR, and new neuroradiological methods have improved diagnostic possibilities.