title: A retrospective study of viral central nervous system infections: relationship amongst aetiology, clinical course and outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical pattern of viral central nervous system (CNS) infections and compare meningitis and encephalitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study reporting the clinical characteristics and outcome of 138 cases of viral meningitis and meningoencephalitis in a real life experience at a referral centre in Turin, Northern Italy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enteroviruses were predominant in younger patients who were mainly presenting with signs of meningitis, had shorter hospital admission and absence of complications, whereas herpesviruses had more often signs of encephalitis, were more frequent in elderly patients, had longer hospital admission and frequent complications and sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two main clinical entities with different epidemiology, clinical aspects and prognosis may be identified within the group of viral CNS inefctions.
authors.affiliation: Travel Medicine Unit, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera 164, 10149, Turin, Italy. guido.calleri@aslto2.piemonte.it.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8440-1922
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calleri
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Cardinal Massaia Hospital, Corso Dante Alighieri 202, Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Libanore
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, University of Torino, Corso Svizzera 164, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corcione
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, University of Torino, Corso Svizzera 164, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, Corso Svizzera 164, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caramello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Case series; Central nervous system; Encephalitis; Meningitis; Retrospective; Viral diseases