Central nervous system infections in the tropics: diagnosis, treatment and prevention

The present review is a brief discussion of some of the important new developments that have been reported relating to bacterial and viral infections of the central nervous system. For many of these conditions, certain issues remain unresolved, including what is the best diagnostic approach, what is the optimum treatment and how best to prevent such conditions. The development of improved surveillance, more effective vaccines and a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of these diseases all offer great potential benefits. The hope is that these advances, when they come, will be affordable to those who need them most.