Varicella meningitis

**Definition:** A disease of the meninges, caused by an infection with varicella zoster virus. This infection is characterised by fever, stiff neck, headache, vomiting, photophobia, and sometimes an altered mental status or body aches. Transmission is through hematogenous spread to the meninges after inhalation of infected respiratory secretions, or direct contact with fluid from vesicles. Confirmation is by identification of varicella zoster viral DNA or anti-varicella zoster IgG in cerebrospinal fluid.