Diagnosis and Management of Enteroviral Infections of the Central Nervous System

Even with the approaching worldwide eradication of the polioviruses, the nonpolio enteroviruses remain major pathogens of the central nervous system. Our understanding of this important group of viral pathogens has increased dramatically in the past decade. The advent of molecular virology has yielded information that has been vital to the development of molecular diagnostic techniques for the detection of the enteroviruses and for the design of novel antienteroviral drugs. Advances in molecular diagnostics have allowed for a better definition of the diseases they cause and have impacted on patient care. This review discusses recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of enterovirus infections of the central nervous system, including an overview of the molecular virology of the enteroviruses as it pertains to taxonomy, diagnosis, and treatment.