Evoked potentials in neonates and infants with aseptic meningitis

We investigated 4 infants with aseptic meningitis, 4-38 days of age, by repeated electroencephalography (EEG), flash-visual evoked potentials (F-VEPs), and brainstem auditory evoked potentials. The patients all had mild, acute phases and favorable outcomes at 1-2 years of age. EEGs and F-VEPs obtained within 1 month after onset all were defined as abnormal. In 3 patients, EEG findings were normal 1-2 months after onset, while F-VEP findings were normal at 9-10 months. Brainstem auditory evoked potential findings were normal, except for 1 with otitis media. Evoked potentials suggested that subclinical brain damage, especially due to cortical lesions, persisted during the first year of life in these patients clinically diagnosed with "meningitis."