Clinical characteristics of enteroviral meningitis without pleocytosis in children: a retrospective single center observational study in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

Abstract Background We aimed to study the prevalence of enterovirus (EV) meningitis without the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and identify patient factors and clinical features associated with it. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of patients aged 3 years. Younger age groups had higher prevalence of CSF apleocytosis (p < 0.01). In patients aged ≤3 months, 94.5% underwent lumbar puncture within 24 h of symptom onset. The frequency of not having pleocytosis was higher than the frequency of having pleocytosis during peak EV infection prevalent months (summer and fall) (p < 0.01). Conclusion This study shows that EV meningitis in young infants, with early lumbar puncture, or occurring during peak EV meningitis prevalent seasons cannot be solely excluded by pleocytosis. Also, a confirmation test for EV meningitis should be performed using RT-PCR.

Keywords

• Enterovirus
• Meningitis
• Pleocytosis
• Child
• RT-PCR