Key result
Human enterovirus 71 is detected in ~14% of children hospitalized with aseptic meningitis.
Why the study?
Human enterovirus 71 has emerged as a major cause of aseptic meningitis in children, but its prevalence in children under 8 years old with aseptic meningitis in Tehran was unknown.
Cross-Sectional (n=100)
Human Enterovirus 71 is a causative agent in 14% of aseptic meningitis cases among children under 8 in Tehran.
Supports EV71 testing in Tehran pediatric meningitis differentials; leaves open need for prospective surveillance studies.
BACKGROUND: Human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) was isolated for the first time from an infant with encephalitis in California in 1969 and then spread through the world. It has emerged as a major cause of a vast variety of diseases such as epidemics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), aseptic meningitis (AM), acute flaccid paralysis, and encephalitis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enterovirus 71 in children < 8 years old who were hospitalized due to primary diagnosis of AM in Tehran. METHODS: One hundred cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF) were collected by physicians from children with a diagnosis of AM and transported on ice to the Pasteur Institute of Iran for further processing. Viral RNA was extracted and EV71 infection was detected by RT-PCR method using the specific primers. RESULTS: EV71 infection was detected in 14 patients (14%). Eight (57.14%) patients were younger than 2 years old, 11 (78.57%) were male and 3 (21.43%) were female. The seasonal peaks of EV71 were observed during autumn and winter with 6 (42.86%) and 5 (35.71%) cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EV71 should be considered as a causative agent of AM in Iran with the epidemiological pattern similar to that of other enteroviruses as males are more susceptible to be affected by these viruses. Further studies on this virus are needed to improve our knowledge about them in our country.
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Roohandeh et al. (2013) conducted a cross-sectional in Aseptic meningitis (n=100). Human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) was evaluated on Prevalence of enterovirus 71 infection. Human enterovirus 71 was detected in 14% of children under 8 years old hospitalized with aseptic meningitis in Tehran, with most cases occurring in males and during autumn and winter.
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