[The thyroid function in children with viral meningitis]

Thyroid function was investigated in children affected with viral meningitis caused by Mumpsvirus or enteroviruses. Serum or plasma levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroxine (T4) and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured twice in course of the disease: at admission and at recovery (day 10-14 from the onset of illness). The levels of hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) or by enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA). A decrease in serum or plasma concentrations of TSH, T3, FT3 and T4 (T4--only when measured by RIA) was found at the beginning of illness as compared to the controls, which indicates the low-T3 syndrome in children with viral meningitis. These disturbances were present also at recovery. When comparing thyroid function in children suffering from bacterial and viral meningitis, a more significant decrease in the levels of thyroid hormones (especially T3 and FT3) was found at the beginning of bacterial than viral meningitis. Un resolved questions are the causes and the importance of low-T3 syndrome in children with viral meningitis.