Comparison of clinical and laboratory manifestations of enteroviral meningitis in adults and children

Abstract

Abstract: The study included 42 patients with enteroviral meningitis. To confirm the enteroviral etiology of serous meningitis, the polymerase chain reaction method was used with identification of ribonucleic acid of enteroviruses in the feces and cerebrospinal fluid, followed by the determination of 71 types of enterovirus. The work was carried out within the framework of an open cohort study of the Joint EURO/STF Small Grants Program, aimed at implementing programs to combat infectious diseases. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical and laboratory parameters in adults and children with enterovirus meningitis, as well as to determine their possible connection with 71 types of enterovirus. The enterovirus etiology of serous meningitis is confirmed in all patients, however, 71 genotypes of enterovirus were not detected in any case. Enteroviral meningitis in children had more pronounced clinical symptoms due to the more frequent occurrence of nausea and vomiting (p <0.05), Kernig's positive symptom (p = 0.03), neutrophilic pleocytosis (p = 0.004) and low incidence of meningeal dissociation symptoms (p = 0.04) in combination with other manifestations of enterovirus infection, such as rash (7.4%) and enteritis (3.7%).