Viral meningitis. Tips to rapidly diagnose treatable causes.
Viral meningitis is a common illness among children and is most often caused by enteroviruses. Diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical findings and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid. Important conditions to consider in diagnosis are partially treated bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis, fungal meningitis, other infections, and central nervous system tumor. Ruling out treatable causes early is important. Treatment of enteroviral meningitis is supportive, and the prognosis is usually very good, although significant neurologic sequelae have been reported.
Division of pediatric infectious diseases, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
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D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011379:Prognosis