Ewha Med J.  2017 Jul;40(3):122-127. 10.12771/emj.2017.40.3.122.

Clinical Characteristics and Epidemiology of Enteroviral Meningitis Compared to Non-Enteroviral Meningitis in Infants under 3 Months of Age

• Kim J
• Kang HW
• Youn YM
• Shim SY
• Park EA
• Cho SJ

• KMID: 2386389
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2017.40.3.122

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To compare the epidemiology, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, seasonality and hospital course of enteroviral meningitis (EM) and non-enteroviral meningitis (NEM) cases in infants under 3 months of age.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed of infants under 3 months of age or less with viral meningitis admitted to Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2010 and December 2016.
RESULTS
EM patients were more likely to have siblings compared with NEM. Most of EM was diagnosed during the summer season. Almost 80% of EM was diagnosed between July and September. Fever lasted longer in EM patients compared to NEM. White blood cell count (WBC) from the cerebrospinal fluid was higher in EM patients compared with NEM patients. WBC in blood were lower in EM patients compared with NEM patients. C-reactive protein was lower in EM patients compared with NEM patients. Most of the patients were initially started on antibiotics therapy to rule out bacterial meningitis. EM patients received shorter duration of antibiotic treatment compared with NEM patients.
CONCLUSION
This study was conducted to augment the understanding of the incidence, epidemiology, transmission in infants, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, seasonality and hospital courses of enteroviral meningitis compared to NEM. Early recognition, rapid diagnosis and proper clinical management can reduce duration of antibiotic treatment.

Keyword

Enterovirus; Meningitis; Infant; Cerebrospinal fluid; Polymerase chain reaction

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
C-Reactive Protein
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Diagnosis
Enterovirus
Epidemiology*
Female
Fever
Humans
Incidence
Infant*
Leukocyte Count
Meningitis*
Meningitis, Bacterial
Meningitis, Viral
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Siblings
Anti-Bacterial Agents
C-Reactive Protein

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The distribution by month of the enterovirus meningitis (EM) and non-enteroviral meningitis (NEM). EM incidences are shown in Fig. 1. The black bar is for EM patients, and the white bar is for NEM patients. EM has a summer seasonality compare with NEM.

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