Clinical observations and virological study of aseptic meningitis in the Kaohsiung area

Abstract

During 1988, an endemic outbreak of aseptic meningitis was noted in the Kaohsiung area. Throughout the year, a total of 89 cases were identified by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination at the Pediatric Department of Kaohsiung Medical College. The peak incidence was from June to October. Scattered cases still occurred during November and December. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1 and the age distribution ranged from 1 month to 15 years old. Two peaks of age distribution were observed; one in infancy and the other in the 4-7 year old age group. Most of them exhibited fever (94.4%), headache (68.9%), and vomiting (68.5%). Other associated symptoms and signs included neck stiffness, sore throat, cough, Brudzinski's sign, abdominal pain, seizure, dizziness, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, Kernig's sign, skin rash, hyperemic conjunctiva, apnea, and oral ulcers. Most of them had CSF white blood cell (WBC) counts less than 1000/mm3, normal or mild elevated protein, and normal CSF/plasma sugar ratio. Three patients were found to have a virus in their CSF without pleocytosis. Virus isolations from CSF throat swabs and/or rectal swabs were performed in 65 patients, half of them (35/65, 53.8%) had positive results including echovirus type 9 (sixteen), echovirus type 30 (eighteen), and adenovirus type 3 (one). Echovirus type 9 was predominant during July and August whereas echovirus type 30 became predominant after September. All patients recovered spontaneously without any sequelae.