Enterovirus and Paraechovirus Meningitis in Neonates: Which Is the Difference?
Simonetta PiconeVito MondìFederico Di PalmaMaria Beatrice ValliMartina ReucaManuela BedettaPiermichele PaolilloPublished in: Clinical pediatrics (2024)
Enterovirus (EV) and parechovirus (HPeV) are common viruses in the neonatal period, with similar seasonality and symptomatology. They also are the main causes of aseptic meningitis in newborns and children under 1 year of age. We compared the clinical signs, laboratory data, brain, and neurodevelopmental outcome of 10 infants with HPeV and 8 with EV meningitis. In patients with EV meningitis, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) values were significantly higher than those of patients with HPeV infection. Procalcitonin values were low in both groups. White blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte values were significantly higher in EV patients. None of the infants had a brain lesion on cerebral ultrasound neither negative neurological outcome. Based solely on symptoms, it is not possible to distinguish HPeV from EV infection. C-reactive protein, WBC, and lymphocyte values might allow the physician to assume EV infection. The gold standard test for diagnosis remains real-time polymerase chain reaction on cerebral spinal fluid.
Keyphrases
- cerebrospinal fluid
- cerebral ischemia
- end stage renal disease
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- ejection fraction
- white matter
- chronic kidney disease
- primary care
- emergency department
- magnetic resonance imaging
- peripheral blood
- newly diagnosed
- resting state
- pregnant women
- young adults
- low birth weight
- cell therapy
- single cell
- peritoneal dialysis
- electronic health record
- spinal cord
- big data
- computed tomography
- blood brain barrier
- artificial intelligence
- mesenchymal stem cells
- sleep quality
- preterm infants
- patient reported