title: [Clinical, epidemiological, and etiological studies of aseptic meningitis in adults].
abstract: From summer to autumn, we noted the occurrence of a small epidemic of aseptic meningitis in adults. Over the last 10 years, we have encountered 203 male (mean age, 34.6 ± 15.0 years) and 157 female (mean age, 35.6 ± 16.3 years) patients with aseptic meningitis. We could identify the causative virus in 17 (81%) of 21 cases during the abovementioned months in 2012. Identification rates of the virus in the stool, cerebrospinal fluid, throat swab, and serum samples were 71%, 67%, 42%, and 5%, respectively. The etiological viruses included enteroviruses in all cases, such as echovirus type 9 (E9) in 9 cases, echovirus type 6 (E6) in 4 cases, coxsackievirus type A9 in 1 case, and unknown type of enterovirus in 3 cases. No differences in the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were noted between E9 meningitis and E6 meningitis. In addition, we countered 14 cases of mumps meningitis, 7 cases of varicella-zoster virus meningitis and 6 cases of herpes simplex meningitis during the last 10 years; these cases did not occur as an epidemic, but occurred sporadically. Cases of mumps meningitis were noted in all seasons, and cases of varicella-zoster virus meningitis were only noted from summer to winter. The etiology of epidemic aseptic meningitis in adults could be mainly due to enterovirus infection, and its prognosis was benign.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brain Attack Center, Ota Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neshige
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himeno
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takao
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult