[Enterovirus diagnosis is important, but should be used cautiously]

While the enterovirus diagnostic test positive rate is very low in Sweden, many enterovirus diagnoses are probably missed, owing to inappropriate testing, in patients with acute aseptic meningitis. In the article it is recommended that the cerebrospinal fluid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test should be performed routinely in cases of acute aseptic meningitis. Serology and virus isolation in stool are indicated in cases of acute pericarditis or myocarditis, or certain chronic heart diseases. The PCR test should be performed in serum in the few cases of sepsis-like diseases in newborns or patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia. Otherwise, enterovirus diagnosis is very seldom justified on clinical grounds. For the purpose of poliovirus surveillance, enterovirus isolation may be important for virus typing, especially in cases of paralytic conditions.