[Patterns in the spread and serovirological diagnosis of serous meningitis]

The epidemiological and clinico-etiological study of cases of acute serous meningitis with unknown etiology in children was carried out in a large industrial city at the period of a considerable morbidity rise caused by this infection. The maximum morbidity was registered among younger children under school age attending children's institutions. In 26 closed groups of children group morbidity was revealed (4 cases and more), in 5 such groups small local outbreaks were registered. The clinico-instrumental methods of study permitted one to differentiate the groups of children having serous meningitis of supposedly enteroviral etiology, and sero virological studies carried out with the use of a wide range of diagnostic reagents revealed the etiological role of group B Coxsackie virus, mainly type 4, in 20.6% of cases, ECHO virus, serotypes 3 and 11, in 20.7% of cases, and parotitis virus in 5.3% of cases.