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Clinical and virological features are presented of an epidemic of aseptic meningitis in children caused by echovirus type 7. The majority of patients were younger than 1 year of age. Symptoms varied according to age. The degree of CSF pleocytosis was inversely related to age and was significantly greater in infants 7 months of age and younger than in those older than 7 months. A CSF polymorphonuclear pleocytosis was documented in 66% of the cases. Human placental fibroblast provided a more rapid detection of cytopathic effect and improved final recovery rates when compared with rhesus monkey kidney cells, Vero cells, and human epidermoid (Hep-2) cells. Several possible explanations for the sudden appearance of echovirus type 7 activity are discussed.
William R. Jarvis (Sun,) studied this question.