Depending on geographic location, different viruses cause viral meningitis.  In some areas, arthropod borne viruses are important.

With new diagnostic methods, more of these cases are being given a specific aetiology.

Complications

Very unusual.  Some small studies have suggested that early enterovirus meningitis linked to later language problems.  Deafness is debatable – some large studies have not found any cases, yet antenatal infections and subclinical viral infections are felt to be causes for deafness in other clinical situations!