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Outbreak of aseptic meningitis among adults in southern Taiwan

Chih-Hsiang Kao1, Susan Shin-Jung Lee, Yung-Ching Liu

  • 1Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.

Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection = Wei Mian Yu Gan Ran Za Zhi
|October 30, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Aseptic meningitis in adults is often caused by enteroviruses, particularly echovirus 30, during summer months. Early cerebrospinal fluid sampling improves viral detection rates in these cases.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Aseptic meningitis is a significant cause of central nervous system inflammation.
  • Enteroviral infections are a common etiology for aseptic meningitis, especially in young adults.
  • Understanding seasonal patterns and causative agents is crucial for public health management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the clinical characteristics and etiological agents of aseptic meningitis in adult patients.
  • To investigate the correlation between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling time and viral isolation rates.
  • To identify the predominant viral serotypes responsible for aseptic meningitis outbreaks.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 38 adult aseptic meningitis cases diagnosed in 2001.
  • Clinical data and CSF analysis (cell counts, protein, glucose) were reviewed.
  • Viral etiology was confirmed through isolation from CSF, stool, or throat swabs.

Main Results:

  • The majority of cases (82%) occurred between June and August, predominantly in young adults (18-35 years).
  • Enterovirus was confirmed in 45% of cases, with echovirus serotype 30 being the most common (79% of viral isolates).
  • Higher viral isolation rates from CSF were observed with earlier sampling post-onset (p=0.007).

Conclusions:

  • Enteroviruses, especially echovirus 30, are the primary cause of adult aseptic meningitis during summer in this region.
  • Timely CSF sampling is critical for confirming enteroviral etiology.
  • Patients recovered without antibiotic treatment, highlighting the viral nature of the illness.

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