Differential diagnosis of pediatric intracranial infection

• Bacterial
  — Meningitis / Cerebritis / Intracranial Abscess
  — Meningitis Basilar
  — Meningitis Group B Streptococcus
  — Meningitis Streptoccus Pneumoniae
• Viral
  — Encephalitis Cytomegalovirus
  — Encephalitis Herpes Simplex Virus-1
  — Encephalitis Herpes Simplex Virus-2
  — Encephalitis Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  — Encephalitis Toxoplasmosis
  — Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
• Fungal
  — Cryptococcosis
• Parasite
  — Cysticercosis
• Unknown
  — Encephalitis Rasmussen

Approach to the differential diagnosis of intracranial infection:

• Meningitis – inflammation involving the meninges of the brain
• Cerebritis – inflammation involving the parenchyma of the brain, due to bacterial infection, can lead to complications of intracranial abscess and epidural empyema
• Encephalitis – inflammation involving the parenchyma of the brain, due to viral infection or autoimmune process