Some Viral Central Nervous System Diseases

Introduction Since the isolation and classification of Coxsackie viruses of Group B by Dalldorf1numerous investigations concerning the etiologic role of these agents as the cause of aseptic meningitis have been carried out both in the United States and abroad. In addition, during recent years evidence from different laboratories has also indicated that some specific types of ECHO viruses have been responsible for several outbreaks of aseptic meningitis.2-10 During the years 1956 and 1957, 245 patient with a central nervous system (CNS) disease of presumed viral etiology were seen at the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children. These patients came from areas throughout Indiana, and we were unaware of an outbreak of epidemic proportions occurring in any region during the course of the two-year study. The present study was undertaken in an attempt to recover viral agents from patients with a CNS involvement. Particular reference is made to