Clinical and epidemiological features of enteroviral meningitis in children during the seasonal increase in incidence in 2023

Abstract

Objective: to identify the clinical and epidemiological features of enteroviral meningitis (EVM) in children during the seasonal rise in incidence in 2023.Materials and methods: a retrospective analysis of 171 medical histories of children aged 1 month to 17 years, hospitalized in the infectious diseases hospital of the RSBHI «KICCH № 1» from June to October 2023, is presented.Results. The bulk of patients, 77.9 ± 3.2% (133/171), were hospitalized between August and October, which indicates the persistence of the summer-autumn seasonality of incidence. The clinical picture of EVM is characterized by acute development, persistent fever, intoxication, against which headache and repeated vomiting appear, indicating the development of hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome. Dissociation of meningeal signs requires liquorological studies to confirm the diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis. Clinical recovery at the time of discharge occurred only in 64.3 ± 3.7% of convalescents; in the remaining children, 35.7 ± ± 3.7% (61/171) residual effects persisted, which required continued observation.

Keywords

• enterovirus infection
• enteroviral meningitis
• meningitis
• enteroviruses
• children
• pleocytosis
• apleocytosis
• cerebrospinal fluid