- Title
- Epidemiology of enteroviral meningoencephalitis in neonates and young infants
- Creator
- March, Brayden; Eastwood, Keith; Wright, Ian M.; Tilbrook, Lynelle; Durrheim, David N.
- Relation
- Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health Vol. 50, Issue 3, p. 216-220
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpc.12468
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2014
- Description
- Aim: To describe the epidemiology of enteroviral meningoencephalitis in northern New South Wales, Australia, with a specific focus on neonatal and young infant cases. Methods: A retrospective review of PCR-confirmed enteroviral meningoencephalitis cases in the Hunter New England Local Health District of northern NSW was conducted for the period 2008-2012. Results: One hundred nine patients met the case definition. There was summer seasonality, with 50% (55/109) of cases occurring between December and February. Neonates and young infants (<3 months of age) accounted for 42% (46/109) of cases, with 20% (9/46) being premature births. Fever (83%) was the most common presentation in this age group, followed by irritability (40%), feeding difficulties (40%) and rash (17%). All received at least one antibiotic during their admission, with 26% (12/46) also treated empirically with acyclovir. There was one death. Where testing was undertaken, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein levels were high in 90% (28/31) of neonates and young infants, but the CSF white cell count was variable, with 57% <10/mm³ and 21% >100/mm³. Conclusion Early diagnosis of enteroviral meningoencephalitis could alter management, potentially reducing the period of treatment with empirical antimicrobials and permitting earlier discharge.
- Subject
- encephalitis; enterovirus; epidemiology; meningitis; meningoencephalitis; neonate
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1303643
- Identifier
- uon:20697
- Identifier
- ISSN:1034-4810
- Language
- eng
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