Enteroviral meningitis

**Definition:** A disease of the meninges, caused by an infection with enterovirus. This disease is characterised by high fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, stiff neck, photophobia, drowsiness, skin rash, confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness. This disease may be asymptomatic in older adults. Transmission is through haematogenous spread to the meninges. Confirmation is by identification of enterovirus through a lumbar puncture, by agglutination tests, or by polymerase chain reaction.

**Long definition:** Symptomatic enterovirus infection usually develop mild upper respiratory symptoms (a "summer cold"), a flu-like illness with fever and muscle aches, or an illness with rash. Less commonly, some persons have "aseptic" or viral meningitis.