What are the most common viral causes of meningitis?

The most common viral causes of meningitis are primarily enteroviruses and arboviruses. Enteroviruses are particularly widespread and include coxsackievirus and echovirus, which are well known for causing viral meningitis, especially in children. These pathogens are typically transmitted via the fecal-oral route and can lead to outbreaks, especially during the summer and fall months. Arboviruses, such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus, are transmitted through vectors like mosquitoes and can also cause viral meningitis in certain populations.

The prevalence of enteroviruses in cases of viral meningitis makes them a major focus in both clinical settings and epidemiological studies. This understanding is crucial for healthcare professionals to correctly identify and manage suspected cases of viral meningitis.

Other options contain viruses that are less commonly associated with viral meningitis. For instance, varicella and herpes simplex virus primarily cause other types of conditions, and while some can lead to meningeal inflammation, they are not the leading causes. Similarly, while influenza and mumps viruses can affect the central nervous system, they have a lesser incidence in causing viral meningitis compared to enteroviruses and arboviruses. Also, respiratory syncytial virus and cyt