الفهرس 
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Abstract
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is usually caused by an infection with a virus or a bacterium. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or a bacterium is important because of differences in the seriousness of the illness and the treatment needed.
Viral meningitis is usually relatively mild, while bacterial meningitis is much more serious. Viral meningitis is also called aseptic meningitis. It clears up within a week or two without specific treatment. On the other hands, bacterial meningitis can cause severe disease that can result in brain damage and even death
Viralmeningitis is common and often goes unreported. In the absence of a lumbar puncture, viral and bacterial meningitis cannot be differentiated with certainty, and all suspected cases should therefore be referred.
4Lumbar puncture and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid may be done primarily to exclude bacterial meningitis, but identification of the specific viral cause itself is beneficial.
Enteroviruses are the most frequent cause of aseptic benign meningitis, which requires neither treatment, nor extensive investigations. The peak incidence occurs during the summer and autumn months. Arboviruses are also a leading cause of meningitis given the common name of “ar-bo” for arthropod-borne disease, especially mosquitoes, which serve as vectors for transmission.