Outbreak of aseptic meningitis in Taipei in spring 1993.

An outbreak of aseptic meningitis in the Taipei area occurred from January to August 1993. A total of 114 cases were identified by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination at National Taiwan University Hospital. Most of the cases were found from February to May 1993. The peak of age distribution was 3 to 11 years. The male-to-female ratio was 2.1 to 1. Most patients had fever, headache, and vomiting and nausea. On initial CSF examination, protein concentrations > 400 mg/L were noted in 38 of 93 CSF samples, while 19 of 70 initial samples had hypoglycorrhachia (CSF/serum glucose ratio < 0.5). CSF white cell counts of the initial lumbar puncture were 0-9 x 10(6) cells/L in 4 patients, 10-99 x 10(6) cells/L in 42 patients, 100-199 x 10(6) cells/L in 27 patients, 200-499 x 10(6) cells/L in 24 patients, 500-999 x 10(6) cells/L in 12 patients and > or = 1,000 x 10(6) cells/L in 5 patients. Polymorphonuclear cells predominated in 73 of 114 cases. Viral cultures from CSF, throat swabs and rectal swabs were done with a majority yielding enteroviruses. Enterovirus as a definite etiology was found in 58 of 114 cases and was the presumptive etiology in 15 of 114 cases. The serotypes of the enteroviruses isolated were mostly echovirus type 30. All patients recovered without obvious sequelae.