PAPPATACI-FEVER AS DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF MENINGITIS IN CHILDHOOD

Sandfly fever viruses transmitted in endemic areas by the sandfly, Phl ebotomus, cause headache, myalgia, ocular symptoms and fever, In contr ast to sandfly fever virus, serotype Sicilian and Naples, which cause only a mild illness, serotype Toscana is associated with a particular affinity for the nervous system, resulting in meningitis and meningoen cephalitis, Due to increased tourism, these infections are also of sig nificance in areas not considered to be endemic. Little is known as to the effects of such infections in children, and, to our knowledge, th ere are no references in the literature. We report on a 12 year-old bo y who had spent vacation time in Tuscany, Italy, and several weeks lat er developed acute headache and subfebrile temperature. Lymphocytic me ningitis was diagnosed, and recent infection with Toscana-virus was de monstrated serologically by detecting Toscana-virus-specific IgM. Tosc ana-virus infection should be considered in all cases of meningitis wi th a corresponding travel history.