title: A hospital outbreak of aseptic meningitis due to echovirus type 30 in Antalya, Turkey.
abstract: We analyzed clinical and laboratory findings of 23 hospitalized patients with aseptic meningitis in the Department of Pediatrics, Akdeniz University Hospital. The patients presented with the classic symptoms and signs of aseptic meningitis. Protein levels of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples ranged from 18 to 99 mg/dl, with a mean of 36.5 +/- 4.9 mg/dl. The mean ratio of CSF glucose compared to blood samples was 0.73. Echovirus type 30 was identified in CSF and/or stool samples of 19 patients. Four patients had negative virus culture. The outcome was favorable in all patients. We thought that this outbreak of aseptic meningitis in our department might denote a summer outbreak in the city. However, this remained unproven since field investigations could not be completed. Advances in virus culture or polymerase chain reaction techniques and satisfactory medical records may help patient care by promoting early diagnosis and by eliminating unnecessary antibiotic therapy, allowing epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Etem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozkaya
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.forename: Hayriye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daloğlu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004457:Echovirus Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology