[Enteroviral infections in children: clinical and epidemiological findings in 530 patients (1984-1991)].

Between 1984 and 1991 enteroviral infections have been detected in a total of 530 patients. This type of infection was more frequent during the first years of life, among males and at the end of spring. The most common complaints (70% of the cases) included gastrointestinal manifestation, respiratory symptoms or febrile illness (viremia caused by enterovirus in two patients). Enterovirus was isolated in 25 patients with intussusception. Concurrent acute heart disease was diagnosed in six patients and Guillain-Barré syndrome in four. Enterovirus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid in 79 patients (15%), the majority of whom were infants under 2 months of age or children from 3 to 7 years old. Differences between these two age groups are discussed. Moreover, there were 16 patients with aseptic meningitis probably caused by enterovirus. In the spring of 1987, an epidemic outbreak of enteroviral meningitis was detected, particularly among infants. This outbreak coincided with others reported in different geographic areas of our country.