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Aseptic meningitis

Bonita E Lee1, H Dele Davies

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|May 2, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Enteroviruses are the primary cause of aseptic meningitis. Nucleic acid tests offer a sensitive and cost-effective method for diagnosis, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Aseptic meningitis presents diagnostic challenges, often requiring differentiation from bacterial meningitis.
  • Enteroviruses are the leading infectious agents responsible for aseptic meningitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current epidemiologic and diagnostic challenges in aseptic meningitis.
  • To evaluate diagnostic tests for distinguishing aseptic from bacterial meningitis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on aseptic meningitis epidemiology and diagnostics.
  • Evaluation of nucleic acid tests, cultures, and biochemical markers (CSF protein, serum procalcitonin).

Main Results:

  • Enteroviruses are the most frequent cause; specific strains are associated with outbreaks or endemic disease.
  • Nucleic acid tests demonstrate higher sensitivity than cultures for enteroviral detection.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid protein and serum procalcitonin show limited utility in differentiating meningitis types in children.

Conclusions:

  • Enteroviruses are the predominant cause of aseptic meningitis.
  • Accurate diagnosis focuses on excluding bacterial infection and confirming enteroviral etiology.
  • Implementing nucleic acid tests can decrease costs and avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatments.

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