CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASPECTS OF ENT EROVIRAL MENINGITIS IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN

Objective: This retrospective study analyzes the epidemiology of enter oviral meningitis in Bochum city area and evaluates the frequency of s ymptoms in hospitalized children. Methods: The patients' hospital and virus laboratory records from the Children's University Hospital Bochu m and the Institute of Hygiene Gelsenkirchen were reviewed for the per iod January 1975 to December 1992. Results: Echoviruses and coxsackie- viruses were isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid in 160 (78%) and 44 (22%) children, respectively. Outbreaks of echovirus meningitis occur red every two or three years, whereas coxsackievirus meningitis had on ly one incidental peak during the study period. Most cases of enterovi ral meningitis occurred during the summer and fall. Clinical manifesta tions included headache (96%), fever (81%), pharyngitis (78%), vomitin g (76%), nuchal rigidity (76%), abdominal pain (17%), diarrhea (7%), c onjunctivitis (6%), rash (5%) and convulsions (2%). All patients were discharged without neurologic sequelae. Conclusions: Outbreaks of echo virus meningitis showed a periodical pattern, in contrast to those of coxsackievirus meningitis. Gastrointestinal symptoms were rare. All pa tients with enteroviral meningitis recovered completely without neurol ogic deficits.