[Neuromeningeal enterovirus infections in Tunisia: epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcome of 26 pediatric cases].

UNLABELLED

Non-polio enteroviruses are the most common identified cause of viral neuromeningeal infections following the introduction of the mumps and polio vaccines.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and the outcome of enteroviral infections of the CNS.

METHOD AND PATIENTS

We performed a prospective study on 41 children admitted for viral neuromeningeal infections in the pediatric department of Monastir between December 2001 and November 2002. Enteroviruses were detected from cerebrospinal fluid by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

This study showed that enteroviruses were responsible for 63.4% of the infections. The mean age of patients was 6.1 years. Aseptic meningitis was diagnosed in 14 cases and encephalitis in 10. The most frequent symptom was fever (61.5%), followed by seizures (42.3%), and confusion (23%). On follow-up, all patients with meningitis had recovered without sequels. Neurological complications in patients with encephalitis were epilepsy (3 cases), cerebral palsy (2 cases), and mental retardation (1 case).

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that enteroviruses were the most common cause of viral infections of the CNS. Common use of RT-PCR can have a significant impact on the outcome of patients with enterovirus infections.